The fellow Australian has taken the young Villa star under his wing.
Aston Villa’s Jordan Lyden
Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Lyden has been speaking about his relationship with summer signing Mile Jedinak.
Villa made a move to sign the Australian international from Crystal Palace this summer after he had fallen down the pecking order at Selhurst Park.
Aston Villa’s Jordan Lyden during the warm up
His move has certainly made it harder for Lyden to make an impression on the Aston Villa first-team this season. His chances of featuring for Villa have also been massively hindered by a succession of thigh injuries.
Speaking to SBS’ the World Game this weekend Aston Villa’s young Australian has been explaining how his countryman has been helping him through his recent troubles:
Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak
“It’s great to have Mile at the club and we speak a lot, and have become quite close.
“He’s sat me down and talked about the injury and basically said ‘look, you are still young and you just have to get through it. You have a lot of years left on your career’.
“It’s been good having somebody of Mile’s stature in my corner, somebody who captains our national team.
“I obviously look up to him and he’s an idol of mine, and his words are giving me that extra bit of motivation.
“When somebody like Mile comes to the club, especially being a fellow Australian, it’s a massive boost for me and of course the team as a whole.”
Jedinak in action v Iraq
Jedinak looked to be a shrewd piece of business when Villa snapped him up in the summer but he has struggled to prove himself at the club so far with a string of below-par performances.
The most frustrating thing for Villa fans is knowing just how well Jedinak can play, but not yet seeing it demonstrated in the Aston Villa midfield.
Perhaps the younger statesman Lyden also has a part to play in rebuilding the confidence in his mentor.
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