Boss would have loanee Ramsey back “in a heartbeat”

ASTON Villa loanee Aaron Ramsey signed off his Cheltenham Town stay with a goal on Saturday - and manager Michael Duff says he would have him back “in a heartbeat”.

The Robins boss admitted that Ramsey’s loan hadn’t really panned out as both parties would have hoped, but Duff is backing him to be a success, long-term.

“He’s a good player. It’s probably not quite worked for him so far and I had a chat with him in the week,” said Duff.

“AJ has had everything his own way, pretty much his whole life. He’s been England captain all the way through the age groups, his brother is playing every week in the Premier League and he’ll have been told he’s the next one who’ll be doing this.

“It’s the first time he’s had to suffer a bit of a lack of confidence because he’d have expected to come in and hit the ground running. It’s not quite happened for him, but he’s a good player and his performances have been good, he’s not stunk the joint out.

“But it’s his first loan and that’s why he is here. He’s been taken off at half-time in his last two starts and that’s something that wouldn’t have happened to him before..

“Footballers question why sometimes it’s not quite happening and things like that. He’ll be delighted with the goal and one thing he’ll always remember now is Cheltenham Town for the rest of his life because it’s his first Football League goal.

“He’s been top drawer and I am sure he’ll go out on loan again next year and he’ll be better for the experience. He’ll go back to Villa a better player and they’ll notice that as well. It’s finding a way to show your personality on the pitch and he’s been great.

“I’d take him back in a heartbeat because I see him every day in training. He can do things other people can’t. The goal today, he goes past a couple of men and fires it in, two footed. Yes, I would, but it’s not something we’ve opened up yet because we still have this season to look at.”

Duff feels that Ramsey, along with fellow loanees Mattie Pollock, Callum Wright and Kion Etete, will all be better for their time with the club.

“I think they’ll all have good careers. At what level? It’s not easy. It’s easy to be at a Premier League club, but staying at a Premier League club is the difficult bit,” he said.

“I don’t know whether it’s luck or not, but we have signed good characters. There is no edge to them.

“They have all bought in, which is key. They are here to learn different experiences, styles of football and formations. To a man, they have been top drawer.”