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Andre Green’s loan to Portsmouth shouldn’t necessarily be make or break for the youngster, but certainly could be the making of him.
Words by Regan Foy (@FindFoy)
At the start of last season, fans were partial to a bit of Andre Green like an end-of-work pint on a Friday.
The youngster was impressive and had scored a wonderful goal in front of the Holte End as the Aston Villa outfit demolished Norwich in front of a home crowd – a dream of not only his but many a fan too.
Fans wanted more, but unfortunately after five games in the 2017/18 season, Green found himself sidelined with a harrowing hamstring injury that kept him out for the remainder of the season.
This season, the 20-year-old looked strong during pre-season and didn’t look like he’d lost any confidence through his injury – often taking on his man and even providing two goals in under two minutes in a win against Dynamo Dresden which saw Green play as a makeshift forward.
There’s no doubt that Green has an eye for goal, and he certainly has an eye for a worldie too. But on his return to the first team set-up this season, Andre Green has struggled to show what he’s about any time that he’s on the pitch.
This, and the arrival of wingers Anwar El Ghazi and Yannick Bolasie, saw Andre Green’s chances of first team football – which is what he needs, away from the U23 squad – dwindle.
From here, Andre Green has gone out on loan to Portsmouth and will ply his trade in League one this season. This gives him the perfect chance to get a full season, unless he is injured again, of first team football and prove himself to the likes of Steve Bruce and co. that he can perform at a level that is acceptable for the Sky Bet Championship, or even the Premier League.
For a lot of fans, they think it will be the making of him – much like it was for Jack Grealish when he was loaned to Notts County – but should he get injured or not perform in a level below where he realistically should be playing, it could have detrimental effects to his career.
With Bolasie and El Ghazi both on loan, albeit with the latter having an option to buy at the end of the season, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Andre Green should he not impress with Portsmouth, giving him another chance at his boyhood club.
So, Andre Green should be in or around the Aston Villa squad next season regardless of his performances with Portsmouth – so it’s not necessarily make or break for the youngster – but could certainly be the making of him.
