Alan Hutton predicts Cameron Archer will leave Aston Villa on loan
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland defender Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Aston Villa...
Alan Hutton has backed Cameron Archer to be a success at Aston Villa, but believes another loan move lies in his future.
The former Villa hero praised Archer’s ability and said he believes he will break through at Villa, but also that he is too far down the pecking order this season.
Archer enjoyed a breakthrough season across spells with Villa and Preston last season, scoring 17 goals and getting three assists against senior opposition in 2021/22.
“Of course, he’s looking to prove himself,” he exclusively told Villa News.
“He’s one of the boys who is away on that pre-season trip, so he’ll want to score some goals and make an impression on the manager. That’s what he’s done so far with the goal against Walsall.
“He impressed when he was out on loan at Preston last season, so he’ll obviously want to stay at Villa.“
“Do I think he’ll break into the first team this season? I think he’ll get opportunities here and there, but he’s down the pecking order at this moment in time.
“I’m not saying he can’t force his way in, but I think right now the smart move would be to catch the manager’s eye in pre-season, show him what you’re all about.
“Then you can go out on loan to a top-end Championship team to really get that game time and kick on and show the manager what you’re capable of.”
Destinations
Archer is currently away with the Villa squad in Australia but has been heavily linked with another loan to the Championship.
It will be down to Gerrard to take a good, long look at the striker and see if he believes he is not only good enough, but ready to become that third option at Villa Park.
Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins are clearly still the main two options, and it has been mooted that a third option is possibly going to be brought in this summer for extra help and goal threat.
Could Archer be that man though? Time will tell.
In other Aston Villa news, Villa Women have signed Welsh international on a one-year deal from Reading.