Anthony Onifade

Tue 1 August 2023 8:10, UK

Jaden Philogene-Bidace could surely be set to be handed his Aston Villa opportunity this coming season after Unai Emery admitted the Bodymoor Heath academy product could remain in the first-team picture.

The 21-year-old academy product started all three matches on the club’s pre-season tour to the USA and scored against rivals Fulham in a 2-0 win in the Premier League summer series providing Emery with a reminder of his qualities.

While the addition of Moussa Diaby provides a welcome boost to Villa’s depleted attacking weaponry for next season, it remains to be seen whether Emery will be scouring the market for another winger, but Philogene may well have answered that uncertainty after comments from the boss.

Speaking via Express & Star (1 August), the former Villarreal boss admitted the youngster has received offers this summer, but has made the decision for him to remain at the club for now until they have made a decision.

He said: “Jaden is the player with the most positive surprise we are seeing. That’s the reason why he started the three matches in the starting XI and played well.

“He has offers to leave but at the moment we are going to stay with him and we are going to decide. But if he stays in the performance like he is doing, he has possibilities and has potential in our squad for next season.”

Indeed, the former Villarreal manager could already possess an exciting solution right under his nose in Philogene-Bidace after some impressive and telling contributions in Villa’s pre-season camp.

The 21-year-old took his goal brilliantly against the Cottagers, showcasing his tremendous speed of thought and positioning in the penalty area to latch onto a brilliant cross from Lucas Digne at left-back with the 21-year-old finishing well between the legs of Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

And he followed that up with a superb performance against Brentford in the 3-3 draw.

The Englishman registered five goals and one assist in 38 appearances in all competitions for Cardiff while on last season and was named Young Player of the Year in their end-of-season awards ceremony in May.

This hasn’t been Philogene-Bidace’s first successful loan spell in England’s second tier, as a successful half-season loan spell at Stoke City last year prompted Villa to tie down their man before deploying him back to the Championship for more vital experience and that he so elusively picked up as he emerged as one of Cardiff’s bright sparks in an otherwise dour campaign.

Former Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill was full of praise for the young star during his time with the Potters, describing him as a “sharp and dynamic” presence from the wing and that was truly evident through his 55% successful dribbles rate in the Championship last season whilst also excelling in his defensive attributes, winning 50% of his ground duels and averaging an impressive 1.7 tackles per game [SofaScore].

Philogene’s talents and abilities are clear, and while his Villa Park first-team future is yet to be decided, Emery’s comments can certainly provide him with plenty of encouragement about where he fits in Emery’s thinking and long-term vision for the future of Aston Villa.

The traits that the attacker has been commended for are those typical of a player that flourishes under Emery. The Spaniard has been able to get the best out of the likes of John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey who were tasked with fulfilling unfamiliar roles out wide to compensate for Villa’s lack of attacking options.

Now, Emery has an abundance of talent at his disposal following the signing of Diaby but the potentially much-needed return of Philogene-Bidace who proved to every Aston Villa fan in pre-season that he deserves a shot at Premier League stardom next season.

In other Aston Villa news, one Villa Park defender will have forced Emery into an easy decision heading into the new campaign after what he did in pre-season.