Steve Bruce knows Stephen Kelly well from his time at Birmingham City and has given him the chance to work on his fitness at Aston Villa.
If there is one position in Aston Villa’s squad that really does not require reinforcement, it is right-back.
Steve Bruce can already call upon the experienced Alan Hutton and highly-rated youngster James Bree, while former Manchester United and Leicester City flyer Ritchie De Laet should feel like a new signing after recovering from a long-term injury.
And then there’s Easah Suliman, the talented academy starlet who played every minute and scored in the final as England’s Under-19s won the UEFA European Championships this summer.
Therefore, Stephen Kelly may not be needed at Villa. Although you wonder whether Bruce could be willing to hand him an opportunity in claret and blue.
According to the Birmingham Mail, the 34-year-old is training with Villa’s Under-23 squad to build up his fitness as he looks for a new club. Kelly, who represented Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Reading along with Villa’s local rivals Birmingham City in the Premier League, was released by Rotherham United last season after their humiliating relegation to the third tier.
The report claims that Bruce is merely doing Kelly a favour with the player and manager sharing a good relationship stretching back to their time together at Birmingham.
As yet, there are no plans to hand Kelly a deal but the report adds that things could change if the 38-time Republic of Ireland international impresses Villa’s coaching staff.
Villa may have one of the strongest squads in the league on paper but another experienced campaigner wouldn’t go amiss as Bruce aims to improve on last season’s disappointing mid-table finish.
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