Why Unai Emery has perfect 'throwback' starlet breaking through at Aston Villa with standout trait

Aston Villa have a history of giving young stars a chance at first-team level.

With the Villans being the oldest traditional clubs in England, they have bred so many top talents.

Jack Grealish was, at one point, the most expensive English player of all time after coming through at Bodymoor Heath.

The most recent big-money sale of a homegrown star saw Jacob Ramsey depart for Newcastle United.

That is just two recent examples of years worth of great work in B6.

Chances haven't been so free-flowing under Unai Emery, but he could have a dream asset lying in wait.

Who is Aston Villa talent Oscar Johnson?

There has been a long-term desire on the Holte End to see academy talents get a chance.

Grealish and Ramsey are perfect examples as it seriously hurt when they both made moves elsewhere.

Villa will be hoping to bring forward similar levels of talent as they look to their current set-up.

It seems that they may have exactly that as The Guardian publish their yearly Next Generation feature.

The newspaper has assessed the 20 best talents at each Premier League club, with Villa's entrant named as Oscar Johnson.

Discussing the 2009-born winger, they wrote: "Something of a throwback of a winger, the 16-year-old is already a regular for Villa’s Under-21s and recently represented England at Under-17 level.

"In an age of inverted players, Johnson is a direct, pacy attacking forward with quick feet and an appetite to take on full-backs.

"He is viewed as a high-potential player but perhaps his biggest attribute is his mentality; Johnson, who shone for Villa’s Under-18s aged 15 and represented England at Under-16s, has displayed great humility and determination as he has progressed through Villa’s youth programme, which he joined as an under-nine.

"Johnson may still be at the beginning of his scholarship but he has impressed those at the club and beyond, recently scoring twice against Middlesbrough Under-21s, the second a sublime solo goal."

It is his mentality that will catch the eye of Emery as it has already served a fellow academy star well in the first team.

How Johnson can learn from George Hemmings example

The 16-year-old has been with the Villans for many years.

He came in at under-nine level and will look to those at an older age group for inspiration.

George Hemmings is arguably the best current example to prove that there is a pathway to the first-team.

The difference between the two is that the 19-year-old actually came in from Nottingham Forest before becoming a senior regular under Emery.

It seems that his mentality and willingness to work is what has earned him the opportunity.

That is the exact point that every academy talent could learn from, and it seems that Johnson already is.

If the winger can maintain that attribute, there is no reason why he can't become a star in claret and blue.