Aston Villa Academy: Kaine Kesler-Hayden should be recalled from loan spell at Huddersfield Town in January
Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden could see his loan spell at Huddersfield Town cut short in January as Unai Emery looks for defensive reinforcements in his first-team squad.
The 20-year-old right-back has long been touted as a first-team regular at Villa Park, and after successful loan stints at MK Dons and Swindon last year, it was seemingly only a matter of time before he broke into the first-team ranks.
At the Milton Keynes club, the defender strung together an impressive run of performances and proved himself a key cog in the League One outfit as they impressively reached the playoff semi-finals.
After finishing his loan spell in the midlands, Villa’s hierarchy believed he was ready for a step up to the Championship, and he was sent on a season-long loan to The John Smith’s Stadium.
However, Kesler-Hayden has hit an unforeseen roadblock this season, struggling to nail down a starting spot under manager Mark Fotheringham at Huddersfield.
After starting the season brightly for The Terriers, he was left out of the playing squad between October 9 and November 2, as Fotheringham was hired by the club after the sacking of Danny Schofield.
The 39-year-old manager outlined his desire to promote the club’s own homegrown talent from day one at the club, and as a result, the Villa youngster has taken a back-seat in proceedings.
Although he returned to the starting lineup last weekend for their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United – starting on the right side of a 3-5-2 – Villa will be extremely tempted to recall him and either blood him into first-team proceedings under Emery or send him elsewhere on loan.
With Matty Cash and Ashley Young the only two viable right-back options – with the latter also covering Lucas Digne at left-back – it might be wise to start installing Emery’s complex tactical requirements into the youngster in case either were to fall foul to injuries.
Whether Kesler-Hayden is fully ready for first-team action is still up for debate, but sitting on the sidelines in the Championship isn’t going to aid his progression.
Many Championship sides would bite Villa’s hand off for the undoubtedly talented right-back, but Emery might just want to keep him under a microscope at Bodymoor Heath.
In other Aston Villa news, Philippe Coutinho’s return presents Unai Emery with his brightest opportunity and toughest challenge so far at Aston Villa.