Jacob Ramsey has caught the eye of Dean Smith, with the Aston Villa manager suggesting that the youngster could force his way into their Premier League plans over the next few weeks, while speaking at his pre-match press conference.
The Midland giants have made it their mission to turn Bodymoor Heath into one of the most prosperous academies in English football, snapping up a whole host of talented teenagers including Barcelona’s Louie Barry, Vitesse’s Sil Swinkels and Bayern Munich target Ben Chrisene.
But it is a man who joined Villa’s ranks all the way back in 2007 as a six-year-old who looks to be the closes to a first-team debut.
Ramsey recently returned from an impressive loan spell at Doncaster Rovers and has caught the eye in claret and blue since Villa returned from a short summer break.
The 19-year-old showcased his ability to finish ruthlessly from midfield with a clinical brace against Arsenal no less in pre-season, before making his first ever senior start in the 3-1 Carabao Cup win at Burton Albion in midweek.
“Jacob played against a really strong Arsenal team the other week and did well. He deserved his place in the team on Tuesday,” says Smith, a coach who showed at Villa, Brentford and Walsall that he is not afraid to give youth a chance.
“We will continue to keep looking at him right up until the window closes. If he keeps impressing us as he is we will keep him around.
“If we feel it would be better for him to go out, we will do that. We will certainly keep him in discussions. It was a very mature performance again from him on Tuesday night.
“He deserved the start and didn’t let himself down. He’s a player that’s got an awful lot of potential and he’s beginning to fulfil that.”
Arguably Jack Grealish is the only midfielder in Villa’s senior squad capable of bursting into the box from midfield to score with any regularity.
Great Barr-born Ramsey, then, could offer something a little different in the final third.
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