Albert Adomah played a key role in helping Aston Villa claim derby victory on Sunday.
After scoring 17 goals and providing 15 assists in the Championship during his previous two campaigns with Aston Villa, it may have surprised plenty of Villa supporters when it was reported by TEAMtalk during the summer that Steve Bruce was ready to let Albert Adomah leave.
Although his form tailed off in the latter stages of last season, Adomah was superb for much of the campaign and his early performances arguably proved to be a key reason why Villa were in a position to make a charge at the play-offs in the second-half of the year.
Nevertheless, TEAMtalk reported in August that Bruce was ready to allow Adomah to leave on loan for one of their Championship rivals. In fact, the three teams interested in a late deal – Middlesbrough, Leeds and West Brom – currently find themselves occupying three of the top four spots in the division.
And after his latest display, it is perhaps fair to say that Bruce’s decision to leave the door open for Adomah to go now looks almost baffling.
The winger has looked lively since Dean Smith arrived, and he backed that up by playing a key role in two of Villa’s goals in their derby victory over Birmingham at the weekend.
His dangerous cross was flicked into the path of Jonathan Kodjia for Villa’s initial equaliser, and it was another ball into the box from Adomah that led to Jack Grealish putting the home side in front on their way to a 4-2 win.
Unfortunately, the afternoon was to end prematurely for Adomah as he sustained an injury. But he certainly made a crucial impact while he was on the pitch.
And if that display is a sign of things to come when he does return, then Villa supporters will be delighted that Bruce did not get his way when he reportedly wanted the wide-man to leave in the summer.
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