BLUES KIDS MORE THAN ALRIGHT FOR BOSS GARRY
MANAGER Steve Bruce says he will look to secure the squad’s loanees on permanent deals if Villa can seal promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.
Bruce will lead his side out at Wembley to take on Fulham in the lucrative Championship play-off final for the chance to sit at English football’s top table once more next season.
Villa have been significantly aided by the group’s borrowed players this term; clean-sheet master Sam Johnstone, assist king Robert Snodgrass and, latterly, fox-in-the-box Lewis Grabban have all contributed to their fourth-placed finish.
Young pair Axel Tuanzebe and Josh Onomah, tipped for big things at Manchester United and Tottenham respectively, have also gained valuable experience. So impressive and important have those performances been, Bruce, should he have a top-flight budget to work with in the summer transfer window, will plan to sign them up on a permanent basis – not that such business will be straightforward.
“It is going to be difficult, with the loan players we have got,” he conceded. “It is fairly evident we are going to have go up to keep the loan players, otherwise it will be a struggle to hang on to them, either financially or whatever division we are in.
“It has taken a little bit of time to get the squad where we are. We have a nice mixture at the moment, obviously there are decisions to make on Terry and Hutton.
“There is still a bit of work to be done. I have to say we have the makings of a very decent squad. The five loan players add to that. The first thing we want to do is secure them. I would love to secure them all if we can. The loan signings have been instrumental in getting us this far. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done. They’ve been terrific for us.”
Bruce also believes that many of the loanees would happily move to Villa Park on long-term contracts because of how much they have enjoyed spending time with the promotionchasing club this term.
It’s evident that the squad’s morale on a collective note has been high throughout the season – and that has translated on to the pitch.
“The one thing is, if you are a footballer you want to play on a Saturday afternoon,” the manager added. “What better place to do it than here? A big club, with a big tradition, history and a big crowd. Who wouldn’t want to play at Villa Park every week? There is something wrong with you if you don’t enjoy playing here.”