Conor Hourihane has started to look like a much more impressive player for Aston Villa in recent weeks.
Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia celebrates after scoring their first goal with Aston Villa’s Conor Hourihane
With 14 points to claw back over nine games, it certainly appears that Aston Villa have too much work to do to try and secure a play-off spot this time around, but their form in recent weeks certainly suggests that there is reason for a little more optimism around Villa Park.
Steve Bruce’s men have won four of their last five to move into the top half of the Championship, and one of the players that has really stepped up during that run is Conor Hourihane.
The 26-year-old looked bright at times following his January move from Barnsley, but it appears to be starting to click into place for the Villans man, with one goal and two assists coming in his last four games.
And with Villa keeping four clean sheets in that recent run, it appears that Hourihane is really starting to have the kind of impact that tempted the Midlands outfit to bring him in from Oakwell in the first place.
With the Tykes, Hourihane had been the talisman that threatened to inspire them into the play-off race in their first year back in the second tier.
Conor Hourihane
Now however, Paul Heckingbottom’s men have slipped well out of that race and now sit just one place and three points above Villa.
And given his recent form, it appears that Hourihane is starting to become a similarly influential figure for his new side, which should be incredibly encouraging.
If he could threaten to lead Barnsley towards the top six, imagine what he may be capable of once he fully finds his feet at Villa, who should have the resources to put a much better squad around him.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
