Tammy Abraham feels at home after staying put with Aston Villa

The Chelsea loanee was heavily linked with a move to West Midlands rivals Wolves in the January transfer window but decided to remain at Villa Park, where he is the Championship’s joint-top goalscorer.

Abraham, 21, admitted he faced a ‘big decision’ when Premier League clubs came calling for his services but it was the influence of Villa’s management – and his team-mates – that won him over. The frontman said: “When Premier League (clubs) come for you it’s a big decision. I chose to stay here, I believed in the manager and players, and the fans and the great stadium.

“I put everything into consideration. To stay here, my aim is to finish top goalscorer and I’d be over the moon with it.

“I felt like here was home. The boys made me feel at home straight away. The new gaffer came in after me and players like John Terry who I grew up watching and playing with at Chelsea.

“It feels like a big family with the fans, everyone supporting. It’s a great team, great stadium, great staff.

“Dean Smith and John Terry, to be fair, they called me every day! They said, ‘Listen, we believe you’ll score many goals here. We believe you could possibly take us up as well’.

“When a manager believes in you that deeply it gives you that confidence as well to go out there every game, do your best for the team, the staff, coaches and everyone who believes in you.”

Abraham was unable to add to his 19 goals in Saturday’s dull 0-0 draw at Reading, where Smith’s side missed out on a chance to close the gap on the top six.