One of Aston Villa’s most promising young players is set to be included in their squad for the first time for the clash with Leeds United this evening.
The Whites have often been the Premier League side selecting inexperienced youth in their matchday squad and their opponents look likely to do the same.
Earlier this season, Leeds made history by handing Premier League debuts to eight teenagers in the same season for the first time.
While the injury problems have subsided slightly and there will be more experienced heads on the substitutes’ bench this evening, a few of Mark Jackson’s U23s will still be named in the squad by Marcelo Bielsa.
They won’t be the only youngsters involved this evening though as Tommi O’Reilly is set to be named in the squad by Steven Gerrard.
It will be his second internal promotion of the season as he initially started in the U18 squad at Bodymoor Heath before being moved into the U23 side where he has continued to impress.
According to our sister site Birmingham Live, Gerrard has been extremely encouraged by what he has seen from the 18-year-old and will trust him with a place in the squad this evening.
O’Reilly was involved with the first team in their 3-1 win against Molde at the weekend. It was the second friendly Villa played during the recent international break to maintain match sharpness, also beating Brighton this time last week.
Because of his diminutive stature, the young midfielder has been compared to both Phil Foden and Jack Wilshere by his academy team mates at Villa, highlighting the way in which he plays.
He is unlikely to feature against the Whites because of his inexperience but, as we have seen with Leeds this season, teenagers can impress at the top level when given the opportunity.
