Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is determined to promote youth during his time in charge at Villa Park.
Steve Bruce’s latest comments to the Express and Star appear to be very good news for Aston Villa duo Andre Green and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
Green and Hepburn-Murphy are two of Villa’s most promising academy graduates – and they have both been given first-team chances this season.
Green has played 15 matches for Villa so far this term, while Hepburn-Murphy has played twice.
And Bruce has suggested that he is prioritising making sure Villa’s academy system is more productive in the future.
“I think it is an important part of the job and if I can help the academy produce a good player then certainly it helps me,” Bruce said. “If I can help, I will help. It is fair to say in recent years there have been good players come out of the city and they have not come from Villa.”
For a stage this season, Hepburn-Murphy’s future at Villa appeared to be in doubt.
The young striker’s contract was coming to an end, and he was linked with a range of clubs across Britain.
However, Hepburn-Murphy did eventually commit his long-term future to Villa.
And Bruce said: “I think the club made a big statement with Hepburn-Murphy.
“He was much sought after by everybody and we managed to hang onto him. I think that is a big statement for all.
“In my hour of need I threw an 18-year-old in Green when I needed a performance because it lifts the crowd and gives everyone a lift in the club. It certainly lifts the academy and of course it gives the older players a kick up the a*** that there is a younger kid coming through and breathing down their neck.”
With Villa destined to finish in mid-table this season, it seems likely that both Green and Hepburn-Murphy could feature again before the end of the campaign.
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