Brunt has signed a new contract at Aston Villa.
Aston Villa decided to hand youngster Lewis Brunt his first professional contract earlier this week, after starring for the club’s Under-18 side – but that deal may have ramifications for another young midfielder.
Central midfielder Brunt, 18, has agreed professional terms as he continues to be rated as one of the club’s highest-rated prospects. He is yet to make a senior appearance, but his contract is a sign that it could be in the offing.
But placing their faith in the youngster could see Dean Smith’s preference of a young midfielder switch to Brunt from Jordan Lyden, who is struggling to earn a new contract at Villa Park.
The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Oldham Athletic in the fourth tier of English football, managing just seven appearances for the League Two side after overcoming an injury.
The Australian star was one of the club’s young rising stars before serious injuries struck, and his reputation has gone from hot prospect to something that could have been.
Lyden is in the final months of his contract and with Villa boasting plenty of options in the middle of the park, first-team chances under Smith seem unlikely.
The likes of Glenn Whelan, John McGinn, Mile Jedinak, Henri Lansbury, Conor Hourihane and Birkir Bjarnason provide the options in the senior side, and Lyden simply is not going to break past that.
Now, with the trust placed in the highly-rated youth prospect Brunt, Villa are likely to be more inclined into giving Brunt a chance to develop rather than offering Lyden one last go at fulfilling his potential.
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