So, that was 2022 and Aston Villa fans have had plenty of ups and downs over the last few months, but with the first team back on a more upward curve under new gaffer Unai Emery.
Whilst he no doubt be seeing what improvements he can force with the January transfer window now open, he’ll also no doubt have one eye on some of our loanees out learning the game – wondering if they are ready now to make an impact of their own come the summer.
So here’s how they are doing at roughly the midpoint time of the campaign.
With a very successful spell out last season with League Two side Newport County, 22-year-old Finn Azaz stepped up a level this time around and made the move to League One side Plymouth Argyle for the remainder of the campaign. It’s turning into another good season for the lad as well. He has made 13 starts with five substitute appearances, and he’s already returned six goals for them. Sadly back at the end of October, he sustained a broken ankle and ligament damage but he has remained at Home Park for his recovery, and they are hoping he can return to action before we tick into February.
21-year-old goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo made the switch out to League One, and local side, Burton Albion as he hoped to build on the successful loan spell he had out with Scottish Championship side Ayr back in the 2020/21 campaign. It hasn’t been a great opening half of the year. He has made eight starts for them so far, with two clean sheets to his name, as their struggles in the league increased, he last featured for them back in mid-November.
Having had a mixed first half of the season with Ipswich Town, 19-year-old Louie Barry got himself back on track after a January switch to League Two side Swindon Town. He has also stepped up a level this year, making a season long loan out to League One MK Dons. Barry now has 17 starts, with 14 additional showings from the substitutes bench. He opened his club account back in November.
Following on from Ben Mee’s horror challenge, 25-year-old Wesley had a very mixed 2021/22 campaign, first heading to Club Brugge, before moving on to Internacional in January. This term he’s headed to Spanish Segunda Division side Levante as he looks to prove his fitness and form, and ultimately get his career back on track. He’s made eleven starts, with eight substitute appearances for them so far. He is still waiting to open his goalscoring account, but at least he’s getting far greater game time.
Having had a reasonable spell out in the second half of last season with Stoke City, 20-year-old Jaden Philogene-Bidace gets a second bite at the Championship cherry with him spending the 2022/23 season with Cardiff City. Ten starts and nine substitute showings later, he’s already returned two goals.
Following Jacob’s rise through the ranks in recent seasons, former gaffer Dean Smith was attempting to repeat the trick with 19-year-old brother, Aaron. Having had a reasonable second half of the season out on loan League One side Cheltenham Town, Aaron Ramsey should now spend the season with Championship side Norwich City. After a slowish start as he adjusted, he now has 14 starts and six substitute showings to his name, providing three assists and now three goals. Aaron unfortunately picked up a knee injury during the winter break, and he hasn’t featured since November – so with Smith having now departed, there is a slight question surrounding his future.
20-year-old Kaine Kesler Hayden had a fantastic 2021/22 campaign. He spent the first half of the year with League Two Swindon Town, before stepping up to League One MK Dons during the January window. This season he again steps up another level as he’s headed out to Championship side Huddersfield Town. He now has nine starts and five substitute showings under his belt. He opened his club account in their Boxing Day victory over Preston North End.
The conundrum that is 27-year-old Bertie Traore, will spend the 2022/23 with Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir. Making the move later on during the window, he now has ten starts and eight substitute showings to his name. He’s also now scored three times.
In one of the stranger decisions of the summer given we already knew about the injury to Diego Carlos, 27-year-old Kortney Hause headed out to the Championship to spend the year with Watford. He now has two starts and one substitute appearance to his name in what has been a woeful spell for him.
24-year-old Keinan Davis had previously headed out to Vicarage Road for the campaign and he has faired better. With 13 starts and four substitute showings to his name so far. He has returned four goals.
Having received a bit of game time whilst he was with Exeter City before making the move to our Academy, 18-year-old defender Ben Chrisene made the move north of the border to join Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock for the season. He’s now made ten starts for the side, with three more showings from the bench.
There were also a few late deadline day departures.
21-year-old Tyreik Wright has again headed out for a spell in League Two, but this time the Republic of Ireland Under 21 international headed to Bradford City for the rest of the year. He has 14 starts, three substitute appearances and four goals to his name.
19-year-old striker Brad Young was set to build on his loan spell with Carlisle United last year, as he was set to spend the season with Scottish Championship side Ayr United. Young scored on his debut against Raith Rovers and now has seven starts with six substitute showings under his belt. He has scored twice in total.
With plenty of Villans wanting to see slightly more of 19-year-old Tim Iroegbunam, he very sensibly has been given a loan spell out with Michael Beale’s Queens Park Rangers side. It’s his maiden loan spell since joining us and clearly going straight into the Championship shows how highly we rate him. Despite Beale leaving for the Rangers job, Tim now has 14 starts and three substitute appearances to his name.
Fellow 20-year-old midfielder Hayden Lindley had also departed for a League Two experience, and he headed to Newport County for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign. It has been a poor spell for the lad given their struggles, and he only notched up three starts with two substitute appearances in the first half of the campaign. Villa recalled him at the beginning of January, and hopefully we will find a better fit for him to get better up and running.
Caleb Chukwuemeka headed out to League Two side Crawley Town. The loan includes an obligation to buy. He has five starts now with six more substitute showings.
Bit of a mixed bag really, but good to see some youngsters continue to make their own mark.
