Aston Villa reportedly scouted Chester youngster Sam Hughes on Monday.
According to the Chester Chronicle, Aston Villa sent a scout to watch Chester defender Sam Hughes in action against a team of fringe Liverpool players on Monday.
With a little break until Liverpool play Stoke City on the 27th of December, some of the club’s fringe players were in action on Monday as they took on Chester in a friendly.
Liverpool named a strong side for the game, as the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Mamadou Sakho, Kevin Stewart, Ovie Ejaria, Cameron Brannagan, Sheyi Ojo and Ben Woodburn all started, helping Liverpool claim a win over the non-league side.
General view of Villa Park
Tomi Adeloye gave Chester the lead in the second half, but Liverpool’s quality showed in the end as Harry Wilson scored from the penalty spot before Brannagan hit the winner for the Reds with just 16 minutes to play.
Whilst the game was merely to give minutes to fringe players, it seems that Aston Villa were taking particular interest in the game, having sent a scout to watch Chester youngster Sam Hughes, according to the Chester Chronicle.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
The 19-year-old has come up through the ranks with Chester, and after scoring twice in 19 games last season, he’s now hit one goal in 19 appearances this season, cementing himself as a first-team player at the Deva Stadium.
Primarily a central defender but also capable of playing in midfield, teenager Hughes played the full 90 minutes against Liverpool, and was allegedly being watched by a Villa scout ahead of a possible move from the Championship club.
A number of non-league players have thrived after stepping up into the Championship or Premier League, with Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin, Yannick Bolasie and Chris Smalling have all made huge steps up in recent years, with all but Austin now full internationals.
Villa may see Hughes as a prospect they can sign for a low price and then develop in the coming years, and the chance to work under a former defender in Villa boss Steve Bruce could be appealing to the young defender.
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