In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Premier League forward Kevin Phillips urged Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis to go out on loan this month. Phillips said,
“He had a spell in the side last season and he has a lot of talent.
“But if he stays at Villa and flirts with the bench his career will come to a halt.
“I think he should go on loan to someone like a Swansea, who we saw Rhian Brewster do so well at.
“I am sure there will be a few clubs queuing up to take him, certainly in the Championship.
“Villa have a big squad so it would be best for his career to leave in January.”
Davis’ Lacklustre Season In English Football
Davis has endured a frustrating season at Villa Park so far as he has found regular game time hard to come by under the stewardship of Dean Smith. The Stevenage-born striker has featured in seven matches for the West Midlands club this term, netting one goal and one assist across multiple competitions.
The 22-year-old has failed to give a good account of himself due to the lack of playing minutes which has reflected on his stats as he is averaging 0.8 shots, 0.3 key passes and 0.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He has also given away the ball cheaply at times when interchanging possession with his teammates in the final third after completing just 76.2% of his attempted passes in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).
What Does The English Striker Bring To The Table?
Davis has decent pace in his locker and can use his powerful 1.89m frame to outmuscle the opposition and win some headers in the air. The Villans forward is a dominant presence inside the opponent’s penalty area and can bang in some goals when he is playing with confidence on the field.
The Englishman also packs venom with his shots at goal but needs to add more productivity to his game if he wants to take his game to the next level. Plus, he also needs to take care of the ball a bit better when distributing it in the attacking third.
Should The Villans Sanction Davis’ Loan Exit In January?
At 22, Davis still has plenty of time to develop his game, but for him to do so now, he has to seek a loan move to another club during this winter transfer period. The player has struggled to earn regular game time under Smith’s tutelage which is hampering his growth in English football.
Aston Villa should consider letting him leave on a short-term loan so that he can come back as a better version of himself at the end of this campaign. With Wesley Moraes nearing a return from injury, Smith will have an ideal back-up for Ollie Watkins soon, so he can afford to sanction Davis’ loan exit this month as such a move will benefit both the player and the club in the long-run.
