Aston Villa Women: Laura Blindkilde Brown highlights clear academy pathway to first-team
Aston Villa’s successful start to the 2022/23 WSL season has been underpinned by a number of young academy stars including Laura Blindkilde Brown breaking into the first team and making the spots their own.
Under ex-Villa captain Kerri Welsh, the Under-21 side continues to flourish, with the likes of Olvia McLoughlin, Freya Gregory, Isobel Goodwin all impressing when stepping up to Carla Ward’s side this season.
Players such as Blindkilde Brown are flying the flag for the academy after going from strength to strength since breaking into the first team and treading an academy pathway which others will truly believe they can follow.
The 19-year-old joined the club from Birmingham City in 2020 and was awarded her first professional contract by the club in September 2021.
Brown, who chose her Danish middle name to feature on the back of her club shirt, has featured for England at Under-17, U19 and U23 levels and can play as a winger, but is at her best in midfield, pulling the strings and offering a creative spark in the middle of the park.
Standout performances against Manchester City and Reading have underpinned the huge improvements to her game this season, with the youngster far more mature and understanding of her role in the team.
During the 3-1 win over The Royals, Blindkilde Brown seemingly covered every blade of grass on the pitch and was a livewire in the middle of the park alongside Rachel Corsie and Kenza Dali.
Her attacking talents have always been evident to Villa’s hierarchy, but her composure on the ball against Arsenal last weekend (11 December) will have pleased them far more.
Against the likes of Lia Walti, she more than held her own and was able to find a Claret and Blue shirt on a regular basis when faced with the quick and aggressive press Arsenal instilled in the first half.
Her confidence to demand the ball in the tightest of spaces is a trait that few others at Villa Park display and something which will only improve as she develops both on and off the pitch.
Despite this increasing assurance on the ball, her next major hurdle will be upping her goals and assists, with Ward’s side far too reliant on the goal of Rachel Daly in the first half of the season.
If she can conquer this next challenge, Blindkilde Brown could prove an extremely useful asset for Ward as Aston Villa continue to emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the WSL.
In other Aston Villa news, Finn Azaz is set for a fresh contract offer after a pair of stunning loan spells in the football league.