Many of our loan players have found themselves away from Aston Villa because they don’t appear to be good enough and the club can’t shift them. Luna and Tonev spring to mind. Other loan rangers like Bent or Stevens are just killing time while their contracts at B6 run down. However, there is one player currently out on loan who could have a future – Gary Gardner. He is one player Villa fans have always wanted to see make it.
When Paul Lambert gave Gardner a two year contract last summer, it was assumed he would be given a chance to impress. Instead, Gardner found himself sent out on loan to Brighton and when that deal expired Nottingham Forest snapped up the Solihull-born midfielder until the end of the season. Gardner has been written off by a lot of Villa fans but browse Nottingham Forest fan forums and you will see he is making an enormous contribution at the City Ground.
Gardner has been dubbed ‘the caretaker’ by Forest fans and has scored some fantastic goals in recent weeks. ‘The caretaker’ has apparently protected the Forest back four and been very neat and tidy on the ball. Gardner has always possessed a goal threat and a dangerous long range strike so it’s pleasing that he has added other facets to his game with a more physical approach and a new role. The fact he is still contributing goals from a deeper position speaks volumes for him.
Gary Gardner has obviously been severely hampered by injuries in his career. In recent seasons he has suffered a horrid anterior cruciate ligament injury to his knee (the second time he has had this injury) and upon his return he had problems with his back last campaign. Gardner is still only twenty-two but lengthy, serious injuries in the development phase of his career have set him back. To be honest, it says a lot about his character and resilience that he is back playing at all.
So where does Gardner’s future lie? I have heard that Forest officials are interested in a permanent deal but that their Villa counterparts don’t want to sell. This makes sense. Tim Sherwood will surely want to look at him when his loan ends. Gardner has proved he can handle the Championship now; if the worst happens and we are relegated, I would expect Gardner to take a leading role in a Villa midfield. Of course, I hope it doesn’t come to that.
If we are once again plying our trade in the Premier League next year then the need for Sherwood to look at Gardner and judge him doesn’t change. Gardner will deserve a chance to show that he can become a Premier League player with his boyhood favourites. As I said, he has been written off by some Villa fans, mainly due to the fact that he is twenty-two and not in our side. By the time the next campaign rolls round, Gardner will be twenty-three. Players develop at different rates. Taking Gardner’s injuries into account, I would say he is now on track. Twenty-three is still young and sometimes it takes the right manager to give a player a go: look no further than Ryan Mason at Spurs.
This has been Ryan Mason’s breakthrough campaign at Spurs – and he’s twenty three. At the start of the season, Mason had started the grand total of zero games for Spurs in the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino came in and Mason has not looked back. He’s now a fixture in the Spurs midfield and this week he found himself called up by Roy Hodgson to the England squad. Mason has ability, like Gardner. It’s just taken time for him to develop and mature. Mason has had five separate loan spells away from Spurs while Gardner has had four away from Villa. It can still happen for Gary Gardner at Villa. I’m not for one minute saying England beckons for Gardner but he represented England at U21 level and Mason never did. Look where Mason is now.
Another source of inspiration for Gardner must be Fabian Delph. Delph suffered with equally horrific injuries, which led to him being written off and labelled not good enough by many. He is now our captain and arguably our best player. Delph is someone who has shown unbelievable dedication and mental toughness. Gardner made his Villa début in 2011 so it is frustrating that in 2015 that injuries have prevented him from kicking on. Nevertheless, Gardner must look at Delph and take heart.
It’s pleasing to hear that Gardner is doing well. Tim Sherwood will be aware of this and he has shown that he is willing to give homegrown players a chance both at Spurs and at Villa. Gardner has had a season now in which he has stayed fit. His ongoing fitness will be crucial moving forward. Gardner was so highly rated coming through the academy, a genuine prospect. Time will tell whether he can reach the heights that were expected of him. I for one hope he still can.
