Villa are monitoring their loan stars
Thursday 21st April 2011, 3:40PM BST.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier will be keeping tabs on his promising loan stars – despite his own health problems.
A number of injuries to established first-team players forced Houllier – who is today recovering in hospital after a health scare – to rely on the club’s youngsters early into his Villa Park reign.
But the return to form and fitness of virtually all of the senior members of the squad meant that first-team opportunities became increasingly limited for the likes of Barry Bannan, Nathan Delfouneso and Jonathan Hogg.
Houllier allowed that trio plus goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, Elliot Parish and Andreas Weimann to join clubs outside of the Premier League to enable them to play regularly.
But the Villa boss was keen to stress that it is not a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and is closely monitoring the progress of the players.
He said: “Sir Alex Ferguson told me one day that if you have someone who you think will be a good player then put him out on loan, because that will improve his game.
“We have several players all out on loan now and I get regular updates – we go and see them and have scouts at the games.
“They can do some work in the reserves, but it is good for a young player to finish the season with 20 games under his belt in the Championship, which is a good league.”
Houllier also admitted that a temporary move to another club can help enhance their development as people, as well as professional footballers.
The Frenchman believes that they can mature as individuals if they are presented with the challenge of moving to an area with which they are not familiar.
He said: “By going out on loan, the players also learn about competition for places.
“It is difficult to go and play in a different league that you are not used to, so that is a challenge for them.
“They also have to go out of their comfort zone when they go somewhere new, which means a period of growing up.
“It’s good for them mentally and means they have to adapt.”
By Stuart Hodge
UK Sport
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