Aston Villa have so far refused to give Josh Onomah a key role, but he continues to show that he has the talent to step up.
Last season, as Tottenham Hotspur chased the Premier League title, Josh Onomah was an option from the bench and appeared five times; a year earlier, in similar circumstances, he played on eight occasions.
And yet, somehow, the England U21 international now finds himself as an impact substitute for Aston Villa.
Onomah enjoyed a run of starts at the beginning of the Championship season, but Villa’s results improved when he was left out of the side.
Although that could be seen as reason enough for Steve Bruce to stick with leaving Onomah on the bench, it was not he who contributed to a dismal run – and he is, surely, too good to leave out.
Onomah showed that again on Friday, hitting a stunning strike for England to set up a win over Scotland U21s.
The 20-year-old could well be the future of Tottenham’s midfield and that would only go to show the error of Bruce’s ways if he continues to look elsewhere.
Onomah deserves Villa’s trust and his display for the Three Lions offered just a hint of what he might deliver if given a key role.
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