Norway international and Aston Villa newbie Orjan Nyland isn’t the first foreign goalkeeper to struggle to adapt to life in the Championship.
Aston Villa have made this mistake before. In the summer of 2016, the Midland giants completed one of the most intriguing deals of the transfer window by landing the highly-rated Hellas Verona goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.
The then-21-year-old arrived with a burgeoning reputation, some had even tipped him to be Gianluigi Buffon’s long-term successor at Juventus and for the Italian national team.
But, talent aside, it became quickly apparent that Gollini wasn’t cut out for English football. He struggled to adapt to the physical nature of the Championship and, after just 20 appearances, returned to Italy.
Flash forward to the present day and have Aston Villa made the same mistake again? 27-year-old Norway international Orjan Nyland arrived from Ingolstadt to step into Sam Johnstone’s shoes but he too is having a few teething problems.
The direct, balls-into-the-box nature of England’s second tier caught Gollini unawares and Nyland has struggled too so far. He was caught in no-mans land as he gifted Ipswich Town the equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw.
The likes of Felix Wiedwald and Matz Sels, of Leeds and Newcastle respectively, have also struggled to adapt in a league where commanding your area is key. And Nyland could suffer from the same problems unless he acclimatises very quickly.
It must be remembered, however, that the 27-time international has played just two Championship games in Villa colours. If he is still struggling in November or December, questions will have to be asked but, for now, Steve Bruce must take to the training pitch to ensure Nyland does not follow in Gollini’s footsteps.
You don’t become your country’s number one goalkeeper without plenty of talent and Villa need to tap into that as soon as possible.
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