OPINION
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith will have no doubt spent his first days in charge of his new side focusing on the clash with Swansea City – which ended as the perfect start for the boss – and as such there might not have been too much thought on those not currently playing a role in the first team squad.
One such player who will no doubt be off the radar for the man in the dugout will be young defender Mitchell Clark – not least because he is currently away from Villa Park on a loan deal at Port Vale.
The 19-year-old hot prospect was shipped out to League Two in order to pick up more first team action and he has done just that, becoming a regular starter at the fourth tier side and playing a lot more football than he would have had he stayed with the Villans.
However, it seems as though his bright displays down in the lower leagues have been something of a double edged sword for Smith’s side, with the Sunday Mirror’s print edition (21/10, P67) claiming that his performances have led to Premier League outfits Newcastle United and West Ham scouting him.
While he is still contracted to Villa, having some top flight interest is going to turn his head at least a little bit, and what Smith needs to do now is make sure he is managing the young talent in a way which keeps him interested in the midlands outfit.
That begins with tearing up his loan deal at Port Vale and bringing him into the first team at Villa Park.
Playing League Two football is not going to be all that enticing to the youngster, but he might well be okay with it if he is on Premier League wages.
He would no doubt rather be sitting on the fringes of a top flight side than Villa in the Championship, not least because of the money, and as such Smith needs to show him he has a chance of breaking into the first team setup.
Even giving him January to prove his worth with the senior stars before deciding on a late loan away or staying would be motivation for him to remain at his parent club, and so Smith needs to be tearing that deal up on new year’s day and giving him that shot.