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View: Academy graduate Kadan Young set for back-to-front 18 months at Aston Villa
Kadan Young has risen through the Aston Villa ranks at an abnormally quick rate, and the winger could be set for an uncommon start to his professional career over the coming 18 months.
The 17-year-old has been the breakout star from the next generation of Bodymoor Heath stars this season and has been given plenty of first-team exposure under Villa manager Unai Emery.
Young possesses the pace, trickery, and physicality of a player beyond his years, and as such, there is much excitement about his development in the corridors of power at Villa Park.
However, with the club deciding to part ways with Danny Ings in the January transfer window and loaning out fellow striker Cameron Archer to Middlesbrough, the academy star may have to be called upon due to the club’s lack of alternatives.
Usually, Villa are quick to loan out the finest players from their illustrious academy, with the likes of Archer, Louie Barry, Aaron Ramsey and Lamare Bogarde all gaining temporary stints at clubs within the football league, but Young looks to be starting his career in reverse fashion.
By the looks of it, however, the Englishman – who signed his first professional contract at the club last month – will be playing a prominent role under Emery this season, before being sent out to ply his trade elsewhere next term.
Birmingham Mail reporter Ashley Preece confirmed (Friday 3 February) that this was the club’s wish for Young in the coming months, with the Villa hierarchy looking for the youngster to continue his flying development in the football league.
Before this, though, Young could become a common sight for Villa supporters in the coming months. After featuring on the bench several times over the festive and New Year period, he is expected to remain in the club’s match-day squad’s as a useful attacking option from the bench.
Although Villa recalled Bertrand Traore from his loan spell at Istanbul Basaksehir, Emery is still short-staffed in attack, and Young has proven himself capable of competing at this level.
During the mid-season tour of Dubai, the 17-year-old came off the bench against Brighton and Chelsea to great effect and looked at home among players over 15 years his senior.
The future is bright for Young at Aston Villa, but he may have to endure a topsy-turvy start to his footballing career along the way.
In other Aston Villa news, Unai Emery must end Matty Cash’s exile in defence and bring him back into the side for Ashley Young.