Former Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood is currently in a rich vein of form for Burnley in the Premier League.
During his time at the club, not many players split opinion at Aston Villa than the now thriving Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood.
Six months after Villa’s relegation from the Premier League in 2016, the club opted to sell Westwood during the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old ace swapped Villa Park for Turf Moor and has since found himself a regular member of Sean Dyche’s team, who finished in the top seven of England’s top-flight last season.
Despite Burnley struggling for consistency and form during the first part of this campaign, they have won their last four matches in all competitions, with Westwood playing a key part.
Overall, he has provided four assists from his 19 league matches this term, including two in his last three encounters, further indicating that Dean Smith could do with a player of his quality in his team now.
Villa’s issues at the back and in the middle of the park, particularly the number 6 role, is evident for all to see as they lack a steady figure who could keep the ball ticking in front of the defence.
During his time in B6, Westwood was widely criticised by sections of the supporters for not bringing enough creativity into the team as he constantly divided opinion amongst the Villa faithful.
Under Smith, Villa now play a high line with two advanced midfielders playing in front of the number 6; the players to have been deployed in that deep role have been Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane and Birki Bjarnasson.
Injuries have played their part, but no-one has been able to claim that spot as one of their own, with the team lacking any simplicity and understanding in that area.
Westwood may not have be a creative force, but one thing he does bring is an ability to control a match, play at his tempo and ensure the simple stuff is done to its best – something Villa are missing right now.
Behind all of Villa’s attacking force, Westwood would walk into the team now as he is now proving in the Premier League what the club is missing.
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