Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has lavished praise on “coveted” loan signing Ross Barkley after the England midfielder lashed in the winner against Leicester on Sunday to preserve the club’s perfect start to the Premier League season.
The 26-year-old Ross Barkley had been an injury doubt before the 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium but found the net from the edge of the area in added time.
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Aston Villa, who thumped Liverpool 7-2 before the international break, have won their opening four games of a league season for the first time since the 1930-31 campaign.
They sit second in the table, a point behind leaders Everton but with a game in hand, a remarkable turnaround after avoiding relegation on the final day of last season.
“Ross showed why he’s a very coveted player with a finish we’ve seen him do a number of times,” Aston Villa manager Dean Smith said.
“He’s a high-calibre player. I’m thankful to Chelsea that they’ve loaned him to us.”
“I sold him the project here and told him I’ll get him in the (England) Euros squad and he’s going to try and help us win football games. He’s certainly done that in his first couple.”
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith said Ross Barkley, who has formed an impressive partnership with Jack Grealish in midfield, had made an immediate impact at Villa and brought extra quality to the side.
“Getting a goal as a Blue (former Everton player) against the Reds (the win against Liverpool) and the winner in the 91st minute, it couldn’t have gone any better for him,” said Smith.
Ross Barkley is thankful to Smith for giving him time on the pitch — he made just 28 Premier League starts in a Chelsea shirt after arriving from Everton for £15 million ($20 million) in 2018.
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“The manager has given me the platform to play and I am excited and looking forward to every game,” said the England man.
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