Aston Villa loan watch: Three young stars who have shone away from club this season
Aston Villa have sent 17 players out on loan in the football league this season, with the aim of giving minutes to many of their brightest prospects.
Bodymoor Heath’s academy is one of the most prestigious in the country, and plenty of these youngsters will hope to rise the ranks and eventually make an impression on Unai Emery’s first-team squad.
Although several of these players have struggled for game time at their respective clubs, here are three loanees who have gone from strength to strength so far this season.
Tim Iroegbunam (Queens Park Rangers)
The 19-year-old has possibly been the most consistent and impressive loanee so far this season, with the midfielder continuing his burgeoning career at high-flying QPR in the Championship.
Sent to Loftus Road after ex-manager Michael Beale begged Steven Gerrard for his services in the summer, Iroegbunam has made 14 appearances in the league and been a mainstay in the Hoops’ midfield.
Numerous top-flight clubs have expressed their interest in the youngster, according to The Athletic, but he will stay at Loftus Road under Neil Critchley in the second half of the season.
There is evident Premier League quality in the Englishman’s young boots, and Villa will have no interest in selling him, however big the offer.
Ben Chrisene (Kilmarnock)
Despite picking up a recent injury, which has kept him out of the Killie’s last four games in the Scottish Premiership, the left-back had proven himself a first-team regular under Derek McInnes.
The 18-year-old started all but one game prior to his injury and will look to use the Scottish side’s League Cup semi-final against Celtic next month as a major learning curve in his blossoming career.
After joining Villa in the summer of 2020, the starlet has found pathways to the first team blocked by the likes of Matt Targett and Lucas Digne but has featured for England at Under-15, U16 and U17 levels.
Still a raw talent, but first-team minutes in the Scottish League will undoubtedly help his game develop and mature, with one eye on a spot under Emery in the future.
Keinan Davis (Watford)
Aston Villa’s long-forgotten forward is still firing away at Championship level and has forced his way into the Watford first-team following a strong string of performances.
The 24-year-old has scored four goals in 13 appearances for the Hornets this season and, as ever proven himself a handful for Championship defences to deal with due to his strength and aerial presence.
With Villa duo Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins not firing on full cylinders, the Stevenage-born striker will be frustrated at his lack of opportunities at Villa Park, but he simply needs to score more goals.
Watford have the opportunity to sign the Villa ace if they clinch promotion, but otherwise, Davis could be back fighting amongst the first-team squad come the summer.
In other Aston Villa news, On This Day: Aston Villa smashed Liverpool in one of the strangest Carabao Cup matches ever.