Aston Villa manager Dean Smith wants to promote Louie Barry, Arjan Raikhy and Brad Young to his first-team plans as the Premier League outfit looks to give youth a chance in pre-season, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
As Villa brought an impressive 2020/21 campaign to an end, a couple of highly rated teenagers were rewarded for their fine displays behind the scenes with a much-deserved Premier League debut.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace and the ultra-coveted Carney Chukwuemeka featured off the bench in May’s 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
And, according to reports coming out of the Midlands, Chukwuemeka and co could soon be joined in Smith’s squad by three more teenagers who played key roles in Aston Villa’s FA Youth Cup triumph over Liverpool a few weeks ago.
Chukwuemeka and Barry to get Aston Villa chance
Louie Barry, the fresh-faced goal-machine snapped up from Barcelona, is undeniably the most high profile of the trio.
The one-time West Brom kid shot to fame with a brilliantly taken goal in January’s FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool.
It may be a surprise to learn, then, that Barry wasn’t Aston Villa’s top scorer at youth level last term. That honour went to 18-year-old Brad Young, a ruthless centre-forward who found the net 21 times in 33 games.
Villa squad places up for grabs
The Birmingham Mail believes Smith has been impressed by Young as well as cultured pass-master Arjan Raikhy.
All three are expected to feature alongside the likes of Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins in pre-season, with a place in the Premier League picture up for grabs.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
