Tim Sherwood told Premier League Productions that Ross Barkley will now ‘find it difficult’ getting back into Aston Villa’s starting XI after their 1-1 against Chelsea on Monday.
Dean Smith’s men went the entire month of December unbeaten and are sitting fifth in the Premier League table, with two games in hand on some teams.
Villa’s loan signing, from Chelsea, Barkley suffered a muscle injury during their defeat to Brighton in November, but despite his absence, they haven’t missed the ball-carrying midfielder.
Former Villa boss Sherwood praised the turnaround of the West Midlands side and how someone like Barkley isn’t guaranteed a place in the starting XI because of the club’s current form.
“I think they are chalk and cheese from the team we saw last season,” said Sherwood. “They have really improved. They have done brilliant in the transfer market.
“Right from the back. Their goalkeeper Martinez is a massive step up from what they had before. Matty Cash, who delivered a massive cross today. He is up and down the right-hand side all of the time.
“I think McGinn has come in and he has really settled into the Premier League now. I think after he got that injury and came back, he looked a little bit heavy. He looks like he has got himself back really fit now.
“If you go out of this side, you might not get back into it. Ross Barkley might find it difficult to get back in. He done brilliantly when he first come. Picked up an injury, he’s sitting on the sidelines for a while now, but when he’s fit, he’s not guaranteed to get back into this side because the rest of them have done so well.”
It just goes to show how well Villa have done that Barkley may now find himself on the bench once he returns to action.
Added with that, Tyrone Mings, who was sent off during Villa’s win against Crystal Palace, is another player who may find it hard getting back into the team.
That’s two England internationals potentially sitting on Villa’s bench, which says a lot about where the improvements the club has made since football restarted.
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