Report: 17-year-old Aston Villa player could be given his first-team debut this month, he's got a 'huge future'

By Ben Evans

Aston Villa could hand defender Josh Feeney a first team debut this month, according to The Athletic.

The 17-year-old centre-back has been involved in a few Premier League squads already since joining Villa from Fleetwood Town last summer.

Feeney was then part of the squad that flew out to Australia for Villa’s pre-season tour last month.

The Athletic believe the England under-17 captain could now be in line to make his debut in Villa’s Carabao Cup tie against Bolton next week.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Gerrard hand the youngster a debut, after predicting he had a ‘huge future’ and giving him minutes against Leeds United while Down Under.

Villa could hand Feeney first team debut

There aren’t many clubs that have given more youngsters first team debuts then Aston Villa in the last few years.

Jacob Ramsey, Carney Chukwuemeka  – now of Chelsea – and Cameron Archer were just a few players who broke into the first team last season and made significant impacts.

Villa were also forced to hand out debuts to more than a dozen players against Liverpool in the FA Cup due to isolation regulations last year, and they certainly showed how impressive Villa’s academy set-up is right now.

Feeney could be the next in line to make his first team bow, but won’t have the assurance of Diego Carlos alongside him, after their new signing picked up a serious injury at the weekend.

Whichever defender out of Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Calum Chambers doesn’t play at the weekend against Crystal Palace will be Feeney’s likely partner at the back.

Meanwhile, Gerrard already believes he’s got the right attitude to succeed at this level and said, “He’s a nice kid but when he goes onto the football pitch he changes and he trains and performs like a man.”

It would be a serious defensive crisis is Feeney were needed in the Premier League soon, but the pathway for talented, young players is clear at Villa Park.