Omari Kellyman owed by Aston Villa as UEFA admin oversight emerges
Aston Villa owe Omari Kellyman big time after an “oversight” saw him omitted from the club’s Europa Conference League group-stage squad.
As reported by The Athletic (18 October), the 18-year-old, despite featuring for the Villans in a qualifying clash against Hibernian, Kellyman is unable to play in the competition until the knock-out rounds due to an administrative issue.
The former Derby gem, after moving to Villa Park in 2022, had not been in the academy long enough to qualify for the squad as a graduate, meaning his game time will be severely limited this season.
The club owe Kellyman. His Premier League minutes were always going to be limited this season despite being highly valued by the club. Kellyman is never going to get picked over first-team options, but the 18-year-old has the potential to be a real talent for Villa in the coming seasons.
A budding prospect waiting for his chance to impress would need competitive minutes throughout a season, even against lower-quality opposition. The Conference League provided the perfect platform for Kellyman to get some experience and understanding of the game in a first-team context.
He even got himself an assist against Hibs in the qualifier, suggesting he certainly has the ability to function in the first team. Per Transfermarkt, he’s scored four Premier League 2 goals in just three appearances showing he is ready for more exposure.
Kellyman has made Unai Emery’s bench in the Premier League three times this season, so the boss does have a close eye on him and top-flight minutes are on the cards. However, his most valuable minutes would have been in Europe, and in the knock-out rounds, Emery will be taking no risks.
A loan move to a Championship side or even a lower Premier League side should be considered for Kellyman. After shining in Villa’s pre-season, he has a strong portfolio which could catch the eyes of many clubs.
But, as the season goes on and the stakes rise, fringe players may as well take an early holiday unless there are significant injuries.
Villa has the depth and funds to replace a long-term injury, and Kellyman isn’t quite proven enough to justify regular game time here. However, the club have a responsibility to the youngster to develop him as much as possible this season, and he’s not going to do that through sporadic bench appearances.
In other Aston Villa news, a 100% Villa star may return to the starting lineup after he shined on international duty.