Lewis Grabban: The inside track on Aston Villa's new striker

Luke Hatfield spoke with Peter Bell, Author at Cherry Chimes to get an inside track on the striker.

Lewis Grabban doesn't seem favoured at Bournemouth, having been loaned out twice this season, why is that?

It was a surprise to many when he was resigned from Norwich City.

He is a very good Championship player but he lost his way at Norwich and when he returned to Bournemouth things had changed.

He was not the main man anymore, that was Callum Wilson and I think Lewis knew he wasn't going to get in front of him.

When Wilson had his second cruciate ligament injury there was a chance for Lewis to find his way into the team, but Josh King was unstoppable last season and so it was expected that Lewis would either leave the club permanently or go out on loan at the start of this season.

He had to go and try and get some game time somewhere and Sunderland was clearly a good fit at the time.

What kind of qualities does he bring up front?

Lewis is a player who will run the channels and will stretch defences.

He is quick and turns well to get shots off. He is not so great with his head so won't be scoring many from high crosses.

He can do the spectacular as well and isn't afraid to try the unconventional.

There's lots to like about him when he is on his game.

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

A lot of Lewis' goals have come from spot kicks and if you need a penalty taker who keeps his cool then Lewis is great for that.

He also wins a lot of penalties as well as he can be rather nifty when faced with the last defender. He strikes the ball hard but does not always do so well when he is completely through, one-on-one.

If he has too much time to think about it he can over complicate things.

Do you think he can provide the added firepower to push Aston Villa up to the Premier League?

He has already scored 12 goals for Sunderland in the Championship this season and they are a struggling side. I imagine he can do even better at Aston Villa.

He's a quiet guy and let's his football do the talking.

He will be looking to get at least 20 goals in the Championship and at that level he has proved himself to be a top marksman over a few seasons now, having helped Bournemouth in their first season in Championship.

Do you see any kind of future for him at Bournemouth?

I know Eddie Howe thinks very highly of Lewis Grabban. but the fans less so.

Fans fell out with him at the end of the 2013-14 season as he tried to get a move to Brighton & Hove Albion in the January of that season.

Things were never quite the same for him then at Bournemouth and that next summer he went to Norwich City.

I believe Bournemouth just wanted to help him out when he fell out with Alex Neil at Norwich and it is disappointing for Lewis and AFC Bournemouth that he couldn't get it going well again for a second time at the Dorset club.

I expect Lewis will be at a new club come next August.

Many people are considering the Championship as Grabban's ceiling as a striker, do you think that's the case?

The evidence would point to him having not done brilliantly in the Premier League.

He had problems at Norwich in the Premier League and I don't think that is a fair reflection of his talent. Even while there, he scored against Arsenal.

At Bournemouth he didn't get any run of games during his second time on the south coast as Josh King was having a fantastic season.

If he does get a go at a Premier League club, where he feels right at home, then it could still happen for him, but he is 30 now and his time might have gone playing at the very top level.

You can follow Peter on Twitter by searching for @CherryChimes.