Steven Gerrard has already decided he wants Cameron Archer to return to Aston Villa in the summer to see how the striker fares after his successful loan transfer at Preston North End.
That’s according to Birmingham Live, who note Gerrard wants to see first-hand how Archer has developed whilst in the Championship. The 20-year-old talent moved to Deepdale over the winter to spend the rest of the season playing frequent minutes in a first-team setting.
Archer has since exploded in front of goal in Ryan Lowe’s side, scoring five in 10 second-tier outings so far. The forward has also started eight of his games, while his latest strike offered Preston their equaliser in a 2-1 win at home to promotion hopefuls Bournemouth.
Gerrard now wants Archer back at Aston Villa and in amongst his first-team this summer to personally assess his status. An impressive showing in pre-season may then secure the Villa product a senior role next term beside Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings in claret-and-blue.
Gerrard wants Archer back at Aston Villa in summer after Preston loan
Archer left Aston Villa for Preston on loan in the January transfer window having not played at all under Gerrard following the England icon replacing Dean Smith at the Villa Park helm.
Gerrard also only listed Archer on the bench in four of 11 possible matchday squads across all competitions. Even though the Walsall-born prospect scored four over five senior games under Smith earlier this term – each coming in Carabao Cup ties, including one at Chelsea.
Archer could now look to build on his 24 Premier League minutes under Smith next season when he returns to Gerrard’s Aston Villa following his successful loan transfer with Preston. A move which has seen the striker draw praise for Lilywhites manager Lowe since joining.
“I’ve told him not to worry about it,” Lowe said, via Birmingham Live. “He’s a fantastic kid and has scored loads of goals for us and will score more. I’ve looked back and it’s harder than you think, the ‘keeper has spread himself well. He’s getting in fantastic positions.”
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