‘Manager’s dream’: Steven Gerrard raves about Liverpool player amid ongoing contract uncertainty

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Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has paid tribute to Liverpool’s veteran midfielder James Milner, branding him a ‘manager’s dream’.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Gerrard has suggested that players like Milner and Ashley Young are a rare breed.

Gerrard praised both players as a ‘manager’s dream’, hailing them for playing in any position on the pitch and doing a job no matter what.

We have seen both Young and Milner start out as wingers, but as their pace has diminished, they have moved into midfield and even full back roles.

Both players set the standards brilliantly in training and represent great leaders, an attitude that Gerrard clearly appreciates.

“He’s a player who can come in and do any job on a football pitch,” said Gerrard. “There aren’t many people who can do that, especially at his age as well. He’s one of a few, like James Milner who are a manager’s dream.”

“Certain situations crop up where you need someone to come in and do a certain type of job. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the left, the right, in the middle, in attack, it doesn’t matter what you ask them to do, they just carry it out,” he added.

Aston Villa fans have already seen this from Milner given that he played for the club between between 2008 and 2010.

The nationwide appreciation for Milner seems to have increased in recent years having been a great servant for Liverpool.

Gerrard never played with Milner for Liverpool – he left Anfield in the same summer Milner arrived – but they know each other from England duty.

This may just spark questions about whether Villa could move to re-sign Milner this summer.

The 36-year-old is out of contract at Liverpool this summer and will be free to go soon.

Still a more than capable Premier League performer, Milner is the kind of character Gerrard loves.

Just look at Gerrard’s Rangers team; the likes of Allan McGregor, Steven Davis, Jermain Defoe – all experienced players and fine leaders.

Don’t be surprised then if Gerrard makes a move to bring Milner back to Villa Park on a free transfer, with the Villa boss surely watching the Liverpool contract situation closely.