Unai Emery cannot ignore Aston Villa gem Aidan Borland any longer as new development emerges
Aidan Borland will be wondering what else he has to do to earn a regular spot in Unai Emery’s senior Aston Villa squad this season.
The 17-year-old is expected to be one of the next biggest talents coming out of Bodymoor Heath, and Emery has clearly spotted positive signs after handing him 28 minutes in an EFL Cup fixture recently.
However, that has been the midfielder’s only display in the first team so far, instead playing his football in the Under-21s side, even captaining them in each of their three UEFA League Cup matches.
Though he has yet to earn his Premier League debut, unlike some of his teammates such as Kadan Young and Lamare Bogarde, the manager may now change his mind after the latest development.
Borland has been named in Scotland Under-19s squad for the upcoming Euro qualifying fixtures against Wales, Liechtenstein and France [National team X account, 31 October], which is huge news.
Unai Emery to promote Aidan Borland at Aston Villa?
While Borland is unable to stand out as much as many of his teammates, mainly because of the lack of goal contributions, his leadership skills and ability in midfield are there for all to see.
That is abundantly clear to the Scotland Under-19s manager, who has picked out the 17-year-old central midfielder to represent his country at youth level.
While Villa’s squad is stacked to the rafters with talent, especially in midfield with Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and Ross Barkley, the team are competing in multiple tournaments this season.
Though now knocked out of the EFL Cup following a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, Emery still has the Premier League and Champions League to navigate, with the FA Cup still to come.
Of course, no one is calling for Borland to have a regular spot in the starting XI already at his age, but it would not hurt for the manager to imbed him into the squad as he continues to thrive and develop at Bodymoor Heath.
In other Aston Villa news, Jeff Stelling made a bold statement about Villa’s chances in the Champions League, and Ally McCoist couldn’t agree more.
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