Aston Villa recently entered a new era under Steven Gerrard, and as with any managerial appointment, there’s a feeling that every player has a clean slate and a chance to impress.
Ashley Young has already proven this, he’s apparently impressed Gerrard so much in training that he was considered for a starting role as a number 10 at the weekend.
However, it’s not just the players at Bodymoor Heath who will have a chance to impress Gerrard.
Indeed, Villa have quite a hefty loan army scattered throughout England and Europe at the moment, and one man who may be about to get the opportunity to show Gerrard what he’s all about is Conor Hourihane.
Hourihane has had a tough time at Sheffield United so far this season. He’s started just three games and in one of those starts, he was substituted in the first-half.
However, times are changing at Bramall Lane. Slavisa Jokanovic has gone and he has been replaced by Paul Heckingbottom.
So, why should Villa fans be excited by this prospect? Well, Heckingbottom is the manager who helped Hourihane put himself on the map during their time together at Barnsley.
The Irishman was a star under Heckingbottom in South Yorkshire with the Tykes, he netted double figures in back-to-back seasons in League One before his standout performances in the Championship earned him a move to Villa Park.
Yes, he’s regressed since then, but if Heckingbottom can once again get the best out of Hourihane, he could end up catching Gerrard’s eye and re-igniting his career at Aston Villa.
Hourihane’s contract is up in the summer, but who’s to say that he can’t earn an extension if he shines for Sheffield United for the remainder of the season?
It’s been 360 days since Hourihane’s last game for Villa, but if he can hit form under Heckingbottom, he may yet have a lifeline in the Midlands.
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