Villa Keeper To Build On Experience

Aston Villa’s goalkeeping coach Eric Steele has told Wayne Henderson that the club will allow him to add first team experience to his game with more loan spells should the opportunity arise:

‘Wayne enjoyed his time at Brighton. It was obviously something that was good for him and good for the club. But it’s important that Wayne is able to build on that spell. He needs another opportunity to play first team football. If another opportunity comes up, we wouldn’t stand in his way. He needs first team football to make him a better player.’

The Republic of Ireland Under 21 goalkeeper made 16 appearances at Brighton and rumours have persisted that he might make the move permanent in the January transfer window. He certainly received high praise from team boss Mark McGhee said earlier in November: ‘He’s been different class for us. His distribution allows us to play the way we want to play.’

Henderson had been quoted earlier this month as saying he had no wish to return to Villa:

‘For me, personally, it’s a horrible place to go to. I get on great with the academy and goalkeeping coaches, but Mr O’Leary has his own views on what he wants in goal – and I’m not part of that.’