Viljami Sinisalo can challenge Robin Olsen for first-team spot next season after Unai Emery faith
Aston Villa academy goalkeeper Vijami Sinisalo has been given plenty of first-team exposure by Unai Emery lately and could be ready to take the reins from Robin Olsen next season.
The Finland international has been named on the substitutes bench alongside Olsen in every game since the January transfer window due to the lack of alternative outfield options Emery possesses in his armoury.
The Spaniard answered critics that gave bad press his decision to name three goalkeepers in his matchday squad by stating that he didn’t want to give other academy players false hope of a call-up and that Sinisalo was instrumental in the warm-up drills prior to kick-off.
Such a move has seen Sinisalo hand over his position in between the sticks for the Under-21s to Oliwier Zych and instead train regularly with Emery, FIFA goalkeeper of the year Emi Martinez, and 33-year-old Olsen.
This certainly bodes well for the young shot-stopper’s chances of becoming a regular feature in Villa’s first-team plans next season.
There are likely to be high hopes for Sinisalo within the corridors of power at Villa Park after making the step up to the first team under Emery. The goalkeeper’s credentials were dealt a further boost when he was named in Finland’s squad for their opening Euro 2024 qualification fixtures against Denmark and Northern Ireland earlier this week (14 March).
Although Martinez is firmly established as the club’s number one choice between the sticks, Sinisalo has more than enough in his tank to challenge Olsen going forward.
The Swedish international has looked shaky, to say the least, when Emery called upon him while Martinez took some time away after winning the World Cup with Argentina.
Too often, Olsen gave the ball away cheaply when attempting to play out from the back – a skill that is a necessity for Emery’s goalkeepers.
And with a summer of sweeping changes expected at Villa Park, it would come as no surprise to see the former Roam keeper to be given the green light to leave the club.
If this is the case, Sinisalo looks to be the next cab off the rank and should be vying for Emery’s attention during the closing stages of the Premier League season.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has reacted to a controversial incident in the draw at West Ham.