Steve Bruce has urged Aston Villa supporters to get behind Josh Onomah ahead of the Villans’ game against Queens Park Rangers.
The Aston Villa boss believes fans need to start encouraging the 20-year-old midfielder, who is on loan from Tottenham, as it’s remarkable that he has been able to play so many games at his age.
“He is still only a young lad,” said Bruce in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail.
“To the supporters I say, get behind him, he has played 26 times for us, which is remarkable for a 20-year-old kid.
“He is only a boy, still learning his trade, let’s not forget some of the really great performances he had for us.
“He is a young player, who needs help learning the game but has been involved 28 times (in the Championship), which is remarkable.
“I didn’t think he would get anywhere near that, but away at Preston, at Bristol City, you can reel them off.”
Onomah has made a grand total of 31 appearances across all competitions for the Villans this season, scoring four goals, while creating one.
The attacking midfielder is likely to start the Villans’ game against QPR on Saturday as Jack Grealish is expected to be unavailable due to a calf injury, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
The local newspaper also claimed that supporters had sarcastically cheered Onomah when he was subbed during the Villans’ last game against Sheffield Wednesday.
OPINION
Onomah hasn’t really had the best of times while at the Villans this season, but Bruce is right to urge supporters not to berate the midfielder for his performances. The 20-year-old isn’t going to get any better while the supporters are breathing down his neck, and if they try to cheer him, then who knows what he might be capable of. It’s disappointing that the 20-year-old hasn’t be able to impress while out on loan, as he looked like having a bright future at Spurs. Mauricio Pochettino, based on Onomah’s performances this season, will no doubt be forced to loan the midfielder out again, as he’s clearly not ready for the Premier League.