Scott Sinclair settles in

Scott Sinclair is a player who had been linked with the club numerous times before January 2015, when he finally moved to B6 on an initial loan deal, hoping to regain the feeling of being a part of a team.

Some fans were sceptical about the move, due to the injuries that have side-lined Sinclair in the past and also his serious lack of game time over the past few seasons. Fans may have thought that there was a lack of commitment from the player after his move to Manchester City, which saw Sinclair’s chances extremely limited because of the quality of other players around him at the reigning Premier League champions.

The former Swansea star went on loan to our local rivals, West Bromwich Albion, last season and failed to set The Hawthorns alight, going on to play a dismal three hundred and two minutes for the club. It was inevitable that the Baggies were not going to pursue their interest in the speedy winger so he returned to his parent club, Manchester City, and played a part in their pre-season games. However, once the season began, it was a familiar story for the player, who was surplass to requirements at the Eitihad and became a forgotten man.

January came along and the rumours resurfaced, linking the player with Aston Villa Football Club yet again. This time, the club officials finally got their man. The team had previously been deprived of any width so the addition of a natural winger in Sinclair was vital.

Sinclair has gone onto surpass the number of minutes he played for West Bromwich Albion last season and has even scored three times for the Villans, including the winner against West Bromwich Albion that ensured the Villans’ progression to the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Earlier in the season, scoring three goals would have been deemed a major achievement, as at one point Sinclair was the club’s joint second top goalscorer. He has proved many doubters wrong and fans are eager for the player to sign permanently, especially if his current form continues. It has been reported that Aston Villa officials have held initial talks with the Manchester club and that the parties will meet again when it is clear which league the Villans will be playing in in 2015-16. On the matter, Sherwood said: “Has he a future here beyond the summer if he continues to perform? Yes – and I think he is eager to do that. It is a huge club, he realises that. He obviously wants to play in the Premier League, as we do, so it is something that can be discussed once we are safe – in a couple of weeks!”

On his day, the enthusiastic twenty-five-year-old winger can give full backs nightmares, since he is eager to run at defenders with pace, just like the rest of our front line. Tim Sherwood has come in and filled the team with confidence, when previously the team noticeably lacked it. The attacking threat the Villans now poses is frightening; who would have thought this a few months ago when the team couldn’t score under Lambert?

Collectively, the Villans must now carry their improved form into the Swansea game and the fans must play their part, which they have been doing well for the past few games. Sinclair has insisted that his best years are ahead of him so we can expect to see him continue to make his mark when he lines up in claret and blue against his former club on Saturday afternoon.