Aston Villa expert: Carney Chukwuemeka and two young teammates ready for breakthrough after major development
Aaron Ramsey, Carney Chukwuemeka and Tim Iroegbunam can use their performances in England Under-19’s European Championship triumph to help break into the Aston Villa first-team.
That is the view of Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the future of the trio.
All three featured in England’s 3-1 win over Isreal in last week’s (1 July) final with Ramsey and Iroegbunam scoring the vital goals in added time.
Chukwuemeka, 18 has featured 16 times across all competitions for Aston Villa’s first team while 19-year-olds Iroegbunam and Ramsey – younger brother of Jacob – both made their senior bows for the club in 2021-22.
“Obviously they are going to need a break, they are going to need some time to recharge the batteries,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“But definitely in pre-season, they can use it as a chance to show Steven Gerrard what they can do and try and break into the first team.
“Sometimes pre-season tours and pre-season games is where you can show a manager what you are made of.
“Steven Gerrard has proven that he will give youth a chance. Jacob Ramsey had an amazing season.
“Managers these days do not care about the age, if you are good enough you will play.
“They’ve all got to be looking to try and break into that Aston Villa first-team.
“If not, go somewhere on a loan that’s a higher standard. If that’s a Championship club for half a season, then so be it.
“If I was them, I’d take those performances into pre-season and try and force my way into the first team.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has issued an “emergency” claim amid a “£248million” Aston Villa reveal.