Aston Villa recall striker Callum Robinson from Preston loan deal

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Aston Villa remain the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League, and have recalled Callum Robinson from Preston.

Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Southampton on Monday night, and whilst that was a good result, Villa remain the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League.

Just six goals in 12 Premier League games is a woeful record, and with Darren Bent heading out on loan to Brighton and Hove Albion, manager Paul Lambert has taken the decision to recall Callum Robinson from his loan deal at Preston.

The 19-year-old already has four Premier League appearances to his name for Villa, but in a bid to earn experience in the Football League – much like Jack Grealish did with Notts County last season – Robinson was farmed out to League One, and Preston were the beneficiaries of his talent.

Five goals during his time with Preston made him a crowd favourite at Deepdale, with his last goal coming in the crucial 1-0 win over Bristol City on Saturday.

It was a tough day for Preston, with star striker Joe Garner ruled out for four months with a knee injury, before manager Simon Grayson learned that Villa had recalled promising forward Robinson – much to his disappointment.

“I just feel that Aston Villa have looked at their team and need goals, and they’ve looked a kid that has been absolutely outstanding, been a pleasure to work with, been a real gem that we’ve found and he’s proved really vital for us,” said Grayson.

“We wish Callum all the best, he has contributed to us as a football club, he’s thoroughly enjoyed his time, but his own ambition is to go and play for Aston Villa Football Club – I’ve played for that club and it’s a massive football club, and hopefully he can fulfill that ambition and be a Premier League player for many years to come, and maybe look back in a few years time and think that this move set him on his way,” he added.

It seems bizarre to recall him given the valuable first team football he’s been earning at Preston, but with goals so hard to come by this season, Villa and Lambert may well see England Under-20 international Robinson as a possible solution to their woes in front of goal.