Alan Hutton: Steven Gerrard may keep Cameron Archer around at Aston Villa
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland defender Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Aston Villa
Alan Hutton has insisted that Steven Gerrard may want to keep Cameron Archer around at Aston Villa in the 2022/23 Premier League season.
The ex-Villa defender still believes that a loan move away would be most beneficial, but that the boss looks as though he trusts him as a squad option.
Archer made a real impact in the Australia pre-season tour, managing to find the back of the net and make himself a real handful in the three games.
“I really like him,” he exclusively told Villa News.
“I know he can be similar to the likes of Watkins, he loves chasing defenders, he’s got a goal in him – he has proved that to Steven Gerrard. He’s got goals in pre-season, so I think he’ll be more than happy – will Steven see him as a starter at this moment in time? No.
“He can see a pathway into the first-team there and he has all the attributes he likes so probably going out on loan again, playing games and coming back with confidence, but you never know.
“Gerrard seems to like him and trust him so it’s someone who he may want around the squad.”
Sticking around?
As things stand, Archer is going nowhere.
Gerrard was said to be looking to bring in another striker option to challenge Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, but that has yet to materialise in this window.
Having said that, the young striker has more than proved that he can be that third option that can come on and make a real difference if needed in games.
Archer won’t play every single week, but he would certainly relish a role in cup competitions as well as the odd outing in the Premier League if needed to come on and make a difference.
In other Aston Villa news, Tyrone Mings has now reacted to losing the captaincy to John McGinn