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There is much speculation of what will happen in the coming weeks in regards to the Aston Villa wage bill. It seems almost every other day there is a new rumor from a dodgy source claiming that one player or another will be imminently sold. Since Villa’s financial problems have come to light over the past week, there will be players sold. But, there are also a slew of young and talented players who may be able to step up in Aston Villa’s time of need.
No Villa supporter worth his weight in salt wanted to see West Ham loanee Robert Snodgrass depart back to his parent club, but it is looking more and more likely that is exactly what will happen. The inclusion of Snodgrass in the Aston Villa side forced Villa wide-man Albert Adomah to switch flanks. The move for Adomah could not have been any sweeter as his goal and key pass production rose after making room for the West Ham winger.
As long as Albert Adomah isn’t sold this summer to balance the books, Villa will be missing a wide-man in the starting eleven. While he has his fair share of injuries in the past, Villa may be planning on giving 19 year old Andre Green his first thrust into permanent first-team action.
Can Andre Green meet the expectations set by Aston Villa fans?
Andre Green was rewarded with a fresh two-year at Aston Villa a mere three months ago in March. While Green has suffered successive hamstring injuries over the past few seasons, the youngster is not letting his injury problems hamper his attitude on and off the pitch. The Young Lion was very adamant about his future at Aston Villa, saying “I’m delighted that it’s sorted and is all done. I’ve always wanted to play for Villa so to sign another contract and be here for longer is a big thing for me and my family. Hopefully with a few more years on my contract, I can get my head down and play many more games and score and set up goals again.”
Green spent time working through his injury in America at an Under Armour rehab facility, and the change of scenery rubbed off on Green as far as doing different workouts and and rehabilitation routines. The 19 year old seems very determined to wear the Claret & Blue, which is a great sign for Villa supporters. Green scored a cracking goal in a 4-2 win over Norwich at the start of last season which lifted Villa Park to it’s feet. The maturation process has definitely been obvious in his game as well. Green made his first senior steps as an Aston Villa player in the doomed 2015-2016 season and shown significant improvement since for the Aston Villa first-team and the Aston Villa u23 side. Green has some of the intangibles in a young player that cannot be taught. Speed, intelligence off the ball and ambitious determination are all in his locker. It’s a world away to say that Villa may have another Jack Grealish-type of prospect currently at the club, but if there was even the slightest comparison of raw talent, Green would win that claim.
Andre Green could prove very useful for Aston Villa moving forward under the specific circumstances the club finds itself in. Villa need to shed millions off of their wage bill and get back to being financially responsible. Regardless if senior players at Villa are shipped out, it seems there is no time like the present to give the 19 year old Green his time to shine. Green is most notably played on the left wing, so that would mean that Albert Adomah could find himself back on the right flank, barring he is not one of the senior members sacrificed to the current financial crisis.
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Words by Mark Jirobe (@VillaMarkPGH) // Follow us on Twitter @claretandview
