Stars of the future

One thing that the Villa has always been able to boast about is the quality of youngsters that its academy produces.

Evidence that the scouts have found another bunch of headline makers came yesterday afternoon when Tony McAndrew’s U18s beat Chelsea U18s 2-0 to clinch the Barclays Premier Academy League Group B title. Skipper Daniel Johnson sealed the win with two confidently taken penalties and the team is now waiting to see who they will face in the Barclays Premier Academy League semi-finals as they aim to be crowned overall national champions.

It is a fantastic end to a season that has seen Johnson make the first-team bench for Premier League games against Blackpool and Manchester United and a breakthrough to international level for Derrick Williams with the Republic of Ireland.

But it is not just the current academy players stealing the limelight. This season has seen the emergence into the first team of former academy stars Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan, who are constantly fighting for starting places and proving they can mix it with the big boys. Thrown into what has been a shaky Villa defence this year, Clark has proved to be versatile and dependable, and has also helped his team out with an important goal more than once, most memorably in the dying seconds at Chelsea to secure a point in a dramatic Stamford Bridge encounter.

Albrighton’s wizardry on the wings and his pinpoint crosses have been a welcome revelation, and the Tamworth-born winger has quickly become a fan’s favourite. His endeavour has been rewarded with a place in the provisional squad for England U21s European Championship finals campaign this summer. Called up into Stuart Pearce’s initial squad along with Nathan Delfouneso and Kyle Walker, any international experience can be nothing but a brilliant learning curve for Albrighton and co, and will and provide them with invaluable first team experience as they look to press on next season – I include Walker in this as I sincerely hope we are able to sign him up or at least extend his loan, especially as the player has said he’d be quite happy to stay at Villa Park. 

At a time where change and progress are two things desperately needed at Villa Park, hope must be taken that there is a fine crop of youngsters emerging behind the scenes. Regulars on the international scene and challenging experienced senior stars for their place in the starting 11, those that have flourished already in the first team this season have created a positive for fans in a season that has been drowned in negativity and tension. The time has come now where Villa fans can do nothing but wait to see what the summer will bring, and which management and players will still be at the club come August. But despite the uncertainty, the achievement of the Villa youngsters deserves to be recognised and celebrated, a highpoint amidst the doom and gloom currently surrounding our beloved club.