Mile Jedinak offers that crucial steel and stature to Aston Villa’s midfield but nabbing Barnsley’s Josh Scowen could allow the veteran some rest.
It is a measure of Mile Jedinak’s impact at Aston Villa that he began the season as something of a scapegoat and ended it a firm fan favourite.
Make no mistake, the hirsute Australian was every bit as important to manager Steve Bruce as top scorer Jonathan Kodjia last season whether breaking up the play in midfield or filling in admirably at centre-back.
In fact, Villa did not win a single Championship game without Jedinak in the starting XI. Therefore, it is tempting to wonder where they would have finished if the former Crystal Palace captain had not missed 13 league fixtures in 2016/17.
The problem, however, is that Villa have become somewhat over reliant upon Jedinak. Without his presence and stature in the centre of the park, the club’s soft underbelly has frequently been exposed.
At the age of 32, however, and due to the maximum commitment he invests in every game, Villa cannot rely on Jedinak being available for each and every league fixture.
Going the extra Mile
Therefore, it makes perfect sense that they are attempting to fight off competition from Fulham, Wolves and Brentford to sign Josh Scowen this summer, as reported by The Sun.
The 24-year-old is leaving Barnsley this summer after his contract expired and could follow former Tykes team-mates Conor Hourihane and James Bree to the Midlands. And although he is more naturally attack-minded than Jedinak, assisting four goals in 2016/17, he has proven himself as one of the Championship’s most under-rated central midfielders.
In fact, he averages more tackles-per-game (2.3) than Jedinak (2.1) while arguably offering greater quality in possession too.
Therefore, after spending £70 million just to finish 13 last season, Villa could be about to secure one of the bargains of the summer.
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