Live from Chasetown: Louie Barry shines bright in massive Aston Villa victory
Aston Villa starlet Louie Barry is beginning to find his groove again after two loan spells away from the club last season, starting pre-season with a bang this week.
Barry was stung after a spell at Ipswich Town, which forced Villa to recall him after he barely featured under Paul Cook.
He went back out to Swindon Town and finally found regular football, though he did pick up an injury.
The former Barcelona and West Brom youngster took part in his first game back in a Villa shirt in a preseason friendly against Chasetown on Friday evening and ran the show.
Playing the first 45 minutes at The Scholars Ground, Barry scored one and assisted another as Villa ran out 8-2 winners.
Barry played much of the game out wide instead of his more familiar striker role, with Brad Young favoured at centre forward.
However, much like Jack Grealish during his time at Villa, he was given almost total freedom to influence the game however he wanted, something that will have impressed Steven Gerrard.
He would often be seen dropping back into midfield or in behind Young to help him out.
Barry was most influential from the left however and this is where both of his goal involvements came from.
His goal came first, slotting home at the near post to level the scores after Liam Kirton’s opener. He had his hand in Villa’s second, with his shot being rebounded by Chasetown’s keeper Curtis Pond and headed home by Young.
Tyreik Wright would be the final beneficiary of his skill as Barry played a beautiful pass before the winger slotted home.
While he only played 45 minutes, he still managed to dazzle fans with his pace and electrifying skill as he continues to make waves for Villa.
In other Aston Villa news, women’s star Ruesha Littlejohn has signed a new one-year contract.