CHRIS Herd could become Aston Villa’s ‘‘anchorman’’ – despite his first major audition for the role being cut short prematurely.
Villa are strongly considering using the versatile Aussie as a holding midfielder again at Sunderland today after being impressed with his red-card restricted cameo in last weekend’s West Brom defeat.
Alex McLeish and his coaches feel Herd has the dynamism and positional discipline to protect the backline and give his attack-minded team-mates freedom to push forward.
Herd is available after his sending off and subsequent suspension for a make-believe stamp on Albion defender Jonas Olsson was overturned on appeal.
And assistant boss Peter Grant believes Herd has the energy and expertise to be the ball-winning anchor Villa have lacked at times this season after watching him excel in the role for the reserves.
“We felt in certain games that there was an emptiness in the middle of the pitch,” said Grant, who suggests Stiliyan Petrov, Barry Bannan, Stephen Ireland and Fabian Delph’s natural attacking instincts can leave Villa exposed in the centre.
“We needed a little bit of nous from somebody who wants to actually play there and stay back. We’ve watched him in the reserves and asked him to play a specific role and he did well.
“We were waiting for a chance to get him in the first team.
“We asked him to play as a sitter, as an anchor, to see if he could handle that solidity of staying in a position. Sometimes in reserve games players think ‘I’m just going to get my fitness’ and run around anywhere. But he kept his discipline and stayed in the position.
“The kid wins the ball and gives it simple to his own players. His appreciation of the role and his use of the ball allows the rest of the boys to go forward and express themselves.”
Rather than Herd being a jack of all trades and master of none, Grant believes the versatile Villan’s ability to play full-back and midfield will benefit him.
“We feel Chris has got a good knowledge of the game for one so young and he understands the positions,” said Grant.
“His versatility is great to have. Sometimes people say if you move players about too much they don’t master a position. But the knowledge you get when you’re young stands you in good stead. He will find a position.
“Whatever position he plays he’s focused on it and he works hard with the fitness people to get stronger because he wants to be a Premier League player.
“He tries to understand what the job entails in each position he’s been asked to play. These are all learning experiences for him, He’s learning about his positional play and his concentration.
“I’m sure if he keeps progressing the way he is he can become a big player for us.”
Grant, who praised Herd for the way he calmly left the field without berating referee Phil Dowd and assistant Darren Cann last weekend, admitted he was unlucky to lose his place at right back after his man-of-the-match display against Wolves in late August, with new signing Alan Hutton taking the No.2 role.
“It was a shame because he did well against Wolves, but it wasn’t a reflection on him,” he added.
“He had a slight hamstring problem for the next match at Everton so we thought it was an opportunity to put Alan in.”
