Aston Villa Academy: Goalkeeper Filip Marschall rejoins Gateshead on loan
Aston Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall has rejoined non-league side Gateshead on loan until the end of the season after struggling for consistent minutes this season.
The 19-year-old, who spent last season with The Tynesiders, has been given the green light by Villa’s hierarchy to move away this month, with the hope the rising start can continue to get regular game time away from Villa Park.
An England Under-19 international, Marschall has proven himself a capable pair of hands in between the sticks throughout various Villa youth teams and was even given a first-team run out behind closed doors against Everton when Emi Martinez was away on World Cup leave.
He was on the bench for the Boxing Day clash against Liverpool for Unai Emery’s men but is ultimately fourth in the pecking order behind senior keepers Martinez, Robin Olsen and Jed Steer, so a loan makes complete sense.
The youngster has made eight appearances for Villa’s various youth sides – after remarkably not picking up a pair of goalkeeping gloves until 2017 – and highlighted his leadership qualities when captaining the Under-21s in an EFL Cup clash against Portsmouth.
Marschall also has an FA Youth Cup medal to his name after playing a starring role in the 2021 campaign, which has subsequently seen him fast-tracked through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath.
On loan at Gateshead, the shot-stopper made a name for himself in the second half of last season, where he kept six clean sheets in 19 appearances and helped the North-East outfit win promotion to the National League.
In familiar surroundings and very likely to play on a weekly basis, the move to Gateshead is a great move for both parties and should hopefully accelerate Marschall’s development.
There are high hopes within the corridors of power at Villa Park that the youngster is a Premier League goalkeeper in the making, and his second chapter at Gateshead will hopefully prove them right.
In other Aston Villa news, a 17-year-old academy prospect has signed his first professional contract with the club.