Birmingham Mail journalist unhappy with Cameron Archer lack of game-time at Aston Villa this season
Cameron Archer has only played a handful of minutes for Aston Villa this season despite the side’s current woes in front of goal.
Aston Villa have scored just six goals in eight Premier League games this season, yet Steven Gerrard still seems reluctant to try new options up front.
The Villa boss has kept faith with Olle Watkins despite his poor start to the season, and question marks are beginning to be raised over Archer’s omission from the squad.
The 20-year-old was in dazzling form last season during his loan spell at Preston, and Birmingham Mail journalist Dan Rolinson can’t understand why Gerrard would keep him at Villa Park if he isn’t going to be handed a chance.
Speaking to the Claret & Blue Podcast (36:36), Rolinson said: “I don’t know what the point was keeping him around if he’s not going to get minutes.
“He might as well have played five or six games in the Championship since and scored a couple of goals.
“You would argue, if we’d not heard so much from Gerrard and whoever during the summer, you’d think, ‘oh, he must not be ready’. He must have kept him around just to be in a good training ground, and to be around so-called elite players rather than being in the Championship or League One, and have a good time at Aston Villa – maybe he’s just not ready for it yet.
“We were told all the way through about how he’s ready; if he’s good enough, he’ll start games, or he’ll feature for us.”
Worth a shot
Archer proved last season at Preston that he knew his way to goal, scoring seven goals and registering an assist in just 20 appearances for the side.
But for all of his effort, he’s been rewarded just nine minutes on the pitch for Gerrard’s side this season.
With Watkins out of form and Danny Ings out of favour at Villa Park, there doesn’t seem to be any better opportunity for Gerrard to hand Archer game time, yet he still refuses.
Goals are desperately needed if Villa are to turn their form around, and as harsh as it may seem – Watkins isn’t up to the task.
He was given a plethora of chances against Leeds United last weekend but failed to take any, leaving the travelling Villa fans disappointed once again.
Had Villa had a more clinical striker at Elland Road, there’s no doubt that Gerrard’s side would’ve left with all three points.
Gerrard’s loyalty to Watkins makes sense, but fans aren’t even asking for Archer to start – just for him to at least be given a chance from the bench.
There’s no way to judge his abilities in just a few minutes on the pitch. With Nottingham Forest up next, the excuses are up for Gerrard – he needs to leave with all three points or he’ll face the sack. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Archer could be his saving grace at Villa Park.
In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton insists Villa have the players to form a makeshift defence during the injury crisis