OPINION
Callum O’Hare’s latest performance for Aston Villa’s Under-23s shows that Steve Bruce is going to have a dilemma over what to do with the talented teenager in the summer.
The 19-year-old central midfielder featured against Reading’s Under-23s during his side’s 3-1 victory on Monday, and had a mixed performance.
O’Hare struggled to have an impact in the first half before coming alive later in the game in order to dazzle the crowd with his ability.
The teenage sensation’s performance probably would have caused some supporters in attendance to question why he wasn’t involved with the first-team.
However with Bruce’s side currently in fantastic form after beating league leaders Wolves, they’re currently steaming towards winning promotion to the Premier League.
There’s no reason for the Villans boss to mess with a winning formula by taking a chance on the 19-year-old.
O’Hare has made only four senior appearances in the league this season, with his last outing being a 10 minute cameo against Bristol City on New Year’s Day.
The problem with the teenager is that he is too good to be playing at Under-23s level in the Premier League 2, but currently isn’t ready to be involved in the Villans’ first-team as they’re in an intense battle to win promotion.
If all goes according to plan Bruce’s side will be in the Premier League next season and there will not be room to experiment with O’Hare in their team.
The Villans manager will not want the teenager to continue to waste his talents in the youth set-up, but knows he won’t be able to accommodate him in his first-team plans for next season.
The most obvious option for Bruce is to send him out on loan, even though he is extremely talented, next season in order to aid his development.
The Villans have to ensure they send O’Hare to the right club though as the wrong move could jeopardise his progress and derail his bright future at the club.
Therefore Bruce is set to have a dilemma over what to do with the talented teenager and the wrong decision could be potentially damaging to O’Hare’s career.