Unai Emery to take Cameron Archer on Aston Villa pre-season after Sheffield United development
Sheffield United striker Cameron Archer will “go away” with Aston Villa over pre-season before deciding on his future, according to Alan Hutton.
The 22-year-old left Villa Park last summer, joining the Blades on a permanent basis following their promotion to the Premier League and has managed to score four goals and lay on one assist in just 18 league starts.
However, with Chris Wilder’s side’s relegation to the Championship confirmed following their defeat to Newcastle United last time out, Archer is expected to return to Villa as a result of a buy-back clause in his sale [Alan Nixon, 28 April].
While it remains to be seen whether Unai Emery will reintegrate the striker into his side or instead sell him once again, Hutton believes “the ball is in his court” to impress the Villans boss and earn his place back in the Villa side.
“I think the ball is in his court,” Hutton told Villa News.
“It was always going to be difficult going to a team like Sheffield United and fair play to him for actually taking that step. They were always going to find it hard this season it just is what it is.
“They were a newly promoted team that was not spending loads of money to keep up with the teams around them, it was going to be hard. I think pre-season will be key for him.
“He’s had that opportunity and exposure to playing regular football in the Premier League and he now needs to show the manager that he’s capable of doing it in the Aston Villa team and doing what the manager asks of him.
“Pre-season he will go away with the team and the manager will be assessing him every single day and it’s up to him.
“If it doesn’t quite work out or the manager is looking somewhere else, then of course he’ll look to his different options but as I say, the ball is in his court.”
Will Aston Villa buy Cameron Archer back from Sheffield United in the summer transfer window?
It wasn’t too long ago that sections of the Villa support were pining for Archer to replace Ollie Watkins in the starting XI, but the two English forwards couldn’t have enjoyed more different campaigns in the Premier League this season.
Most expect Emery to add to his frontline when the window opens this summer, with several forwards already linked with a move to Villa Park as speculation continues to circle over Watkins’ future with big clubs circling.
If Archer can hit the ground running in pre-season, he may be able to show Emery that he has what it takes to support the England International, but the 22-year-old may feel as though another move away could benefit his career.
Whatever happens, it seems as though Emery will give the striker another chance to show his ability before making a transfer decision. As Hutton suggests, the ball is well and truly in Archer’s court.
In other Aston Villa news, Clement Lenglet has been tipped to make his switch to Villa Park permanent this summer amid new developments
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