It’s hardly the reveal or insight of the century, but former Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips will find a lot of support for his thoughts on the current pecking order at the club under head coach Dean Smith.
We all know Smith’s go-to’s up top are Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings and we all continue to have high hopes that a partnership and understanding between them both will soon click, but following the emergence of Academy graduate Cameron Archer this year, Phillips has recently simply echoed what many fans are already thinking and saying for themselves.
Archer has now usurped both Wesley and Keinan Davis in the battle for game time.
Speaking to Football Insider in his recent column following on from Archer’s second hattrick of the season in our EFL Trophy clash with Burton Albion, Phillips explained that Archer’s ‘progression and form’ now has him well established as our third choice option.
“Looking at Archer’s progression and form, you would have to say Davis and Wesley might have to leave if they want to play football. That is football though. That is what you want. You want your young players to step up and Archer has done that. He has taken his chance with both hands. These young kids are full of confidence these days. It is great to see. Archer is a confident player who believes in his own ability. In my opinion, he has leapfrogged David and Wesley. I’d have him third behind Watkins and Ings. If you do not keep progressing and performing, someone will take your place. That has certainly been the case with these players.”
Vital Villa’s Cameron Archer Forum Thread
The jury is still out on Wesley who was showing small signs of adjusting to the Premier League level before the horror assault against Burnley and we’ve all seen exactly what Davis can do – and unfortunately, what he can’t seem to do – and it was only a couple of weeks ago I commented that Archer’s immediate future at Villa depended on what Smith decided to do with Davis.
With Archer’s record for 2021/22 now reading eight goals in six games, I can only imagine the ‘what to do with Davis’ question is getting easier and the answer is, at the very least get him out on loan and let’s see what he can do if he stays fit.
Archer’s proving to be a real option from the bench, I just don’t see us loaning him out now whilst he’s in this form.
Who Heads Out?
Cameron Archer
Keinan Davis
