Aston Villa midfielder Glenn Whelan has been in a rich vein of form in recent weeks.
Sky Sports pundit Phl Babb has lauded the performance of Aston Villa veteran Glenn Whelan over the international break after he helped the Republic of Ireland beat Georgia 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Mick McCarthy’s side recorded a valuable three points in their Euro 2020 qualifier, with Conor Hourihane scoring a stunning free-kick in Dublin.
Whelan was deployed in his usual number six role as he anchored the midfield with his club teammate Hourihane and Burnley’s Jeff Hendrick just ahead of him.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football (26/03/2019 at 9:50 pm), former Liverpool defender Babb was in absolute awe of the ‘wise’ and ‘superb’ Whelan.
“I thought Glenn Whelan was superb in there,” Babb told Sky Sports Football. “That wise head just sitting in front of the back four, just slowing the game down at the right times. It was a night for the elder statesman.”
Villa supporters will not be surprised with Whelan’s performance because he has been producing this sort of form for a number of weeks now.
The 35-year-old has been the calm head in the middle of the park for Dean Smith’s side, with the likes of John McGinn and Jack Grealish doing the talking in the attacking third.
On Saturday, Villa will host Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers and it remains to be seen if Whelan will be selected for the starting XI given the high volume of competition in the team now.
The Midlands outfit, who currently occupy the final play-off spot in the Championship, are on a four-match winning run, with Whelan playing some part in all of those encounters.
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