Fans have cast their verdict on Harvey Elliott after he made his first Aston Villa appearance since October during the Villans’ 3-2 win over RB Salzburg on Thursday night. With Lyon also securing victory in the final league-phase match of the Europa League, Unai Emery's side finished as runners-up, and will face FK Crvena Zvezda, Celta Vigo, PAOK or Lille in the Round of 16.
Elliott, who is on a short-term deal at Villa Park from Liverpool, had been expected to complete a permanent £35 million move upon reaching 10 appearances this season. However, with PSR issues stacked against the club, he has struggled for opportunities despite his widely recognised talent, having seemingly been frozen out of the squad up until starting in attacking midfield this week.
It was just his seventh appearance of the season for his loan club off the back of winning Player of the Tournament during England's Euro Under-21 triumph in the summer, and he appeared to press-vulnerable in a fast-paced midfield battle. That is hardly a surprise given he had been restricted to just training for the past four months, but the rest of his display has drawn high praise.
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How Harvey Elliott Performed in First Appearance Since October
harvey Elliott
It spoke volumes about Elliott’s potential that, even with competition for places at its fiercest under Arne Slot’s title-winning Liverpool side, many supporters still had reservations about the club’s decision to let him go. Some of that talent was on show this week, as the young midfielder moved the ball well through midfield and looked confident as ever in possession.
Off the ball, he struggled to keep up with his opponents, winning just three of his nine duels. However, with an 87 per cent pass success rate and three shots, including one on target, Elliott did his best to twist the needle as Villa ramped up the pressure. He’s the kind of player who can make things happen even when nothing appears to be on.
Just like he had when he scored Villa's first goal of the season on his debut back in September after the club went four games without finding the back of the net, Elliott impressed onlookers on Thursday night. "Harvey Elliott was my Man of the Match," one X user explained, as another added:
"Just a moment for Harvey Elliott. Hasn’t played a professional football match in four months. Asked to play 90 minutes, rusty at times but put in a proper shift and showed moments of class with great touches and skill. I would love to keep him here if we can."
harvey elliott
A third wrote: "Why are people surprised Harvey Elliott was good? He plays for Liverpool and was the best player of the U21 tournament last summer." Elsewhere, a fourth concluded: "No one can tell me Harvey Elliott wouldn't make massive contributions for Villa if he played more often."
Tyrone Mings' Brilliant Instagram Reply to Elliott
Tyrone Mings
As Emery turns to Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa as his two first-choice central defenders these days, 32-year-old Tyrone Mings finds himself in a similar predicament to Elliott and knows what it’s like to be cast aside. With the two in the same boat, there was perhaps nobody better to use the Ian Wright “I thought you were dead” meme on the 22-year-old midfielder than his compatriot.
The meme comes from a clip in which Arsenal icon Wright reunites with a beloved teacher and reacts in astonishment after not seeing him for many years, which fits perfectly with Elliott’s situation in the West Midlands. The boyhood Liverpool fan loved it and replied (see the full exchange below):
"Ahahahhaaha there it is!! F off. Good goal bro."
Unai Emery Gives Bleak Assessment of Elliott's Future
Unai Emery
Unfortunately for Elliott, it seems it doesn't matter how well he plays, his manager has already made up his mind about him, and there seems to be no chance at all that he will be a Villa player beyond the summer. As per the Daily Mail, the Spaniard said of him:
"His situation doesn't change. He played a fantastic game today, but our idea with him doesn't change."
It is believed that Charlotte FC snapped up the discovery rights for Elliott last month, meaning a move to MLS could be on the cards in the near future. Although that would be seen as a step down from the Premier League, it could offer him the chance to get regular playing time and the perfect platform to prove that one man’s waste can be another’s treasure.