Recent reports have linked the 18-year-old striker with the likes of Rangers as he prepares to enter the final six months of his Villa contract.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy will be given a chance in the Aston Villa first-team if he commits his future to the club, manager Steve Bruce has revealed at his pre-match press conference ahead of Burton Albion’s visit on Boxing Day.
Hepburn-Murphy, 18, is widely considered to be one of Villa’s top prospects and became the club’s youngster-ever Premier League player in March 2015 when he came off the bench for the closing stages of a 4-0 win at Sunderland.
The Aston-born striker also featured in last season’s 0-0 home draw with Newcastle United after returning from a four-month injury layoff and has been in sensational form for the Under-23s over recent months, netting six times in 10 games to underline his immense promise.
However, despite those eye-catching performances, Hepburn-Murphy has still only made one four-minute cameo for the first-team so far this term and has allegedly grown frustrated about his lack of opportunities.
With his contract expiring next summer, the England Under-18 international has yet to agree fresh terms with his boyhood club and recent reports have suggested that the likes of Manchester City, Watford and Scottish giants Rangers are all looking to lure him away from B6 [h/t The Sun].
Bruce insists that he wants to give the pacey front man a chance in the senior side for the second half of the campaign, but only if he shows his commitment by putting pen to paper on the three-year deal he has been offered.
“We need him to commit because he’s a big talent,” Bruce told reporters at his press conference. “If he does commit to the club then he will come right into contention because of what he has done with the U23s.
“We’ve made him an offer which is very good. He’s been here since he was eight years old and I’m sure this is the right place for him.
“He is a Villa fan, as are his family so we hope to get it over the line. We’ve done our bit and made him a great offer. It’s now up to the boy to decide where he sees his future.”
Hepburn-Murphy’s path to the first-team is currently being blocked by Jonathan Kodjia, Jordan Ayew, Rudy Gestede, Ross McCormack and Gabby Agbonlahor, but there could be a chance for him to see some senior action next month when the former pair head off to the African Cup of Nations.
The highly-rated youngster is already ahead of the little-used Libor Kozak in the pecking order, and while reports have linked Villa with a move for Brentford forward Scott Hogan in the January transfer window [h/t Birmingham Mail], Bruce insists that he has no plans to bring in more firepower over the winter.
“He’s in and around us with Kodjia going away to the African Nations next month,” Bruce added at his press conference when asked about Hepburn-Murphy’s first-team prospects. “I don’t think it’ll force me into the market because the one place in the team where we’re overloaded with players is strikers.
“At the moment it’s very, very quiet as you expect. The media and agents are fuelling everything – we all know the game. Kodjia has been excellent in the 11 games I’ve been here. He’s scored eight goals, which is crucial, [but] we always knew he was going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“This is why we needed to get Gabby in the sort of shape which he is now. Quietly and efficiently over the last three months he’s got back into condition, but I look at the young boys too who are playing.”
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