Hutton: 'I know for a fact' what Aston Villa stars and Smith really think of Chukwuemeka
Dean Smith is desperate to bring wantaway wonderkid Carney Chukwuemeka through as a first-team regular at Aston Villa, according to Alan Hutton.
The former Holte End favourite, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, revealed the Villa boss and the first-team squad "love" the 17-year-old midfielder.
As revealed by Football Insider, Chukwuemeka is looking to quit Villa Park this summer after several broken promises from the club.
The teenage starlet is wanted by the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Liverpool.
As quoted by the Athletic last year, Villa chief Christian Purslow claimed Chukwuemeka was “probably the best 16-year-old in England”.
Hutton admitted that sort of praise was something special coming from the Villa CEO.
The ex-defender, who is close to the Villa squad, also revealed Smith and the players have been just as impressed with the youngster's development.
Hutton told Football Insider's Russell Edge: "Him (Purslow) saying that is massive praise because he doesn't say that sort of stuff often.
"They (the squad) love him as a player, I know that for a fact. Dean Smith loves him, they want to bring him through.
"They've put a lot of faith in him. He's so young but he plays well beyond his years. I mean that's the biggest compliment I can give him. For such a young boy to play with that calmness and control at such an early age.
"I mean I remember when I was at that age, I was just sometimes running about like a headless chicken, still trying to learn the positions. He knows exactly what the game is about and he's very mature for being so young."
Chukwuemeka is still waiting to make his first-team debut for the Villans.
However, he has featured as an unused substitute against both Leicester and Manchester City this season.