Aston Villa are clearly trying to use the international break productively.
A report in the Birmingham Mail has suggested that Aston Villa scout Ian Atkins will be in attendance for Austria’s friendly with Slovakia on Tuesday night. And while a scout attending a game does not always necessarily suggest that a predetermined target will be involved, Atkins’ presence at the upcoming game does provide a major hint about Villa’s plans.
The Birmingham Mail reports that Atkins was also present for Austria’s World Cup qualifying defeat to Republic of Ireland at the weekend.
Ian Atkins, during his time as Bristol Rovers manager
And although the club’s recent interest in Daryl Horgan (via The Irish Sun) may have led some to believe that the Villans representative was watching the Irish winger, his plans for Tuesday suggest that it may have actually been someone playing for the Austrians that was on Atkins’ radar.
Given the talent within the Austria squad currently, it will surely excite Villa fans that it appears that they may well be confident enough about potentially signing one of their players as they are paying close attention to his progress.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Should they indeed have a target in the game, Villa supporters will undoubtedly be hoping to land him at some stage in the near future.
Since Steve Bruce’s arrival, the Villans are unbeaten in five games, winning three along the way, and adding a player of international quality to their ranks will surely bolster their chances of moving themselves into the promotion picture.
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