Harvey Elliott has endured a difficult start to life at Aston Villa following his loan move from Liverpool
Aston Villa's Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott has struggled for regular game time at Aston Villa(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Harvey Elliott has had a challenging start at Aston Villa following his deadline-day loan move to Aston Villa. However, his positive attitude and commitment in the face of adversity reveal much about the 22-year-old's character.
Elliott made the move to Villa Park on a season-long loan at the end of the summer transfer window, with a clause triggering an obligation to buy for around £35 million should certain conditions be met.
The midfielder sought a departure from Anfield this summer after an impressive campaign at the Under-21 Euros - where he was named Player of the Tournament - and in an effort to secure more regular playing time.
Despite being a crucial player for former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Elliott found himself lower down the selection order when Arne Slot took over in the summer of 2024, partly due to an injury sustained at the beginning of the previous campaign. He made 28 appearances across all competitions, but these only amounted to just 822 minutes of play.
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However, despite initially being tipped to become a key player for Unai Emery at Villa, Elliott's struggle for regular game time has also been challenging in the Midlands. He has made five appearances in all competitions so far, totalling less than 200 minutes.
Elliott hasn't started a Premier League match for Villa since the end of September and has not been named in any of the last three matchday squads.
One absence was due to ineligibility to face his parent club at Anfield, but against Manchester City and Bournemouth the decision was purely tactical, reports the Liverpool Echo.
A recent article from The Athletic has dismissed rumours of ending short the loan and returning to Liverpool in January. The report confirms there is no recall clause in the agreement, and neither club has expressed a desire to terminate the deal early.
It has also been claimed that there is a 'growing frustration' from the player's perspective, as his situation seems to worsen with each passing week given he left Liverpool in pursuit of more playing time.
With England now having secured their spot in the World Cup, time is running out for him to make an impression on Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.
However, one particular detail stands out. The report discloses that Elliott has won over Villa's staff with his positive attitude and commitment in training, despite the challenging circumstances.
It's also mentioned that he took Emery's early tough love in stride, referring to the manager's critique of him following their 1-1 draw against Sunderland earlier this season.
For Elliott, maintaining this mindset may be what benefits him most in the coming weeks as the schedule intensifies.
Following the international break, Villa are set to face a series of matches, including an away game at Leeds United and home fixtures against Young Boys and Wolves. This could present the perfect chance for Elliott to assert his position at Villa Park.
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