Theo Walcott has stated that he doesn’t think there will be any ‘doubts’ about what Steven Gerrard will do at Aston Villa, as he told talkSPORT.
The Southampton forward stated that Villa’s now boss comes across as somebody who you will want to play for and he is ‘pretty sure’ that he is going to do ‘relatively well’.
It was Walcott’s Southampton side that put the final nail in the coffin for Dean Smith and opened the door for Gerrard to enter.
Despite still being Rangers boss, and looking to guide the club to back-to-back Premiership titles, Gerrard didn’t hesitate in leaving his post and heading towards the Midlands when they came knocking.
Walcott shared an England dressing room with the legendary midfielder and stated how he thinks he will fare at Villa Park.
“It’s going to be one of them things that’s going to take a lot of time,” said Walcott. “But I like that he wants to test himself in the Premier League now and I think it’s a great opportunity for him.
“Villa are a fantastic team. They have a great squad, so I don’t think there is going to be any doubts about how he is going to do.
“I think that winning mentality he brought to Rangers and just to take it away from Celtic is going to be very different from the Scottish league.
“But he knows the Premier League. He knows the players. I feel he can relate to a lot of the players. He has been in that generation where he has done everything.
“A lot of players will look up to him. When I see him on the TV, in his interviews, he just comes across as somebody you want to play for – I am pretty sure he will do relatively well.”
Before anybody can think of the long-term, the first task for Gerrard is to get the points on the board for the team.
Villa are hovering above the Premier League’s relegation zone after losing five games on the bounce.
If they can get that win against Brighton this Saturday, then the confidence will flow with it.
But suffering yet another defeat will only highlight the issue that is coming Gerrard’s way.
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