Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has told starlet Keinan Davis that he “must keep his feet on the ground” following his first goal for the senior squad on Saturday.
The 19-year-old scored in the 55th minute of the Championship clash to help secure a 3-0 win over Barnsley at Villa Park.
The youth player came to Aston Villa back in 2015 after he was dropped from Biggleswade Town, but the boss has praised him for his hard work and determination to make it to the senior team.
“He’s a bit of a throwback and he hasn’t come through all the nonsense of academies,” Bruce said after the Barnsley win, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.
“He’s had to fight, he’s had rejection and he’s come to us and it just shows you he’s not given up.
“He must keep his feet on the ground. He’s come from nowhere to play in the team and he’s been picked for England and I’m absolutely delighted for him.”
This season Davis has made six appearances for the Claret and Blue first team across the Championship and the EFL Cup, where he has scored once and provided two assists.
Villa face Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup exactly a week after their Championship match at Villa Park on Tuesday before hosting Nottingham Forest in on Saturday.
OPINION
Steve Bruce looks keen to ensure that Davis remains humble and doesn’t get too carried away after scoring his first goal for the club. The striker showed great promise and was even named in the Championship Team of the Week, but this can’t get to his head if he hopes to continue performing for the club. Davis must instead use his new-found confidence to aim for promotion with the rest of his teammates and listen carefully to his manager.