James Chester deserves just as much credit as Aston Villa teammate John Terry this season

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The Wales international has been in fine form for Aston Villa this season.

When Aston Villa signed John Terry back in the summer, it was either going to be a calamitous mistake or a masterstroke, and it did not take long to prove to be the latter, with the 36-year-old excelling for Steve Bruce’s side.

But Terry is not the only Villa centre-back who deserves praise this season, with his partner James Chester proving his worth week after week, learning from one of the best defenders of the last 20 years and helping his side keep five clean sheets in their last six league games.

Such have been Chester’s performances this season that he looks destined to become Villa’s captain in years to come, and yet he has generated considerably less buzz than either Terry or on-loan goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Villa fans know exactly how good Chester has been, but headline writers regularly ignore the Welsh international in favour of his more illustrious defensive partner. That makes sense given Terry’s history, yet it is not fair on one of Villa’s unsung heroes this season.

Along with Neil Taylor, Chester has been understatedly brilliant for Villa as they have turned their early season woes on their head and climbed to within a single point of the play-off places with plenty of football to be played.

Chester has been a quality defender since his early days at Manchester United, and yet it seems this season he has stepped up a level, perhaps inspired by Terry or perhaps simply because he is now one of Villa’s most experienced players.

Whatever the reason, Chester deserves just as much credit as Terry, and it seems that when the latter hangs up his boots for good, Villa will still be in good hands.