‘Going to be quite a player’: Merson and Lawrenson think Villa have a top youngster in their ranks

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Paul Merson and Mark Lawrenson have both praised Aston Villa talent Jacob Ramsey in their latest matchday prediction pieces.

The 20-year-old has come through the ranks at Bodymoor Heath and is now a claret-and-blue first-team regular.

Since his Villa debut in February 2019, Ramsey has clocked up 49 competitive senior appearances for his boyhood club.

He scored twice in the 3-3 draw with Leeds last time out to take his tally for 2021-22 to five.

And now, Ramsey is reportedly on Gareth Southgate’s radar ahead of England’s upcoming friendlies against Ivory Coast and Switzerland.

The midfielder is an outstanding talent and he will go on to have a fine career, there’s no doubt about that.

Ahead of Villa’s meeting with Newcastle on Sunday, both Merson and Lawrenson commented on Ramsey.

Merson thinks Ramsey could get into the England squad – with some help from Philippe Coutinho – and Lawrenson thinks he’ll be “quite a player”.

“Philippe Coutinho was very good against Leeds,” the former Villa ace wrote on Sportskeeda.

“If you can have players like Jacob Ramsey making runs around him, Coutinho will find them.

“Coutinho will probably get Ramsey into the England squad.”

Lawrenson, meanwhile, wrote on BBC Sport: “Philippe Coutinho has been fabulous since joining Aston Villa last month.

“Newcastle will do well to keep him quiet, as well as Jacob Ramsey, who looks like he is going to be quite a player.”

Gerrard an inspired choice for Villa – TBR View

Dean Smith’s sacking yielded a mixed reaction amongst Villa fans and neutrals alike, but bringing Gerrard in was a masterstroker.

The Villans now look like a completely different team. And obviously Gerrard was instrumental in bringing Coutinho and other top players to Villa Park.

Merson makes a good point. Coutinho seems to be elevating Ramsey to a whole new level and could well help him get into the England team.