Aston Villa can blood academy players in Bukayo Saka fashion if they qualify for Europe – Sky Sports journalist
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports and The Athletic’s Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Dan Bardell believes Aston Villa can blood their academy prospects in a similar fashion to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka if they qualify for European football next season.
Although Unai Emery’s side still have a tough task to secure a place in either the Europa League or the Europa Conference League next season, they do currently occupy 6th place with just eight games of their season remaining.
With Europe often demanding Thursday night matches followed by Sunday Premier League encounters, squad depth is often considered an imperative part of fighting on both fronts.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell admitted that the likes of current academy loanees Cameron Archer, Tim Iroegbunam and Lamare Bogarde could all be blooded into the first-team instead of being sent out on a further loan next season if Villa manage to secure European football.
“I think the Europa League is massive for blooding youngsters,” he said.
“If you look at the likes of Bukayo Saka, he was blooded at Arsenal in the Europa League and then he proved himself in the Premier League, and now he’s their best player and talisman.
“I think this would be the same case with Villa, if they qualify, and it would give them a good chance to give those youngsters games and experience, because you’ve got the group stage and the knockouts that are all in midweek.
“You wouldn’t be able to play the same team in the Premier League and in Europe ever week because it just wouldn’t be feasible and Villa have a small squad as it is right now.
“But it could stop the likes of Archer, Iroegbunam and Bogarde possibly heading out on loan again, because I think they would be involved with the first-team and involved in the Europa League.”
After a quiet January transfer window, in which Villa only signed Jhon Duran and Alex Moreno for the first-team squad, Emery has often had to field three goalkeepers in his match-day squad due to a lack of squad depth.
And although a busy summer is expected to rectify this problem, the likes of Archer and Iroegbunam could potentially be key figures in helping bolster Villa’s squad next season.
After impressing out on loan in the Championship at Middlesbrough and QPR, these two academy graduates look the best place to impact proceedings at Villa Park under Emery.
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