Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene-Bidace is hoping to hit the ground running in a Stoke City shirt after completing a loan move until the end of the season.
Philogene-Bidace caught the eye of Potters boss Michael O’Neill during Villa under 23s’ 8-0 hammering of their Stoke counterparts at Clayton Wood earlier in the season, and he got in touch with Villa boss Steven Gerrard this month to enquire about the possibility of borrowing the youngster.
Gerrard, who was keen to get Philogene-Bidace access to more first-team minutes in the second half of the campaign, quickly sanctioned the move to the team who are hoping to earn promotion from the Championship between now and May and who, in Gerrard’s eyes, adopt a style of play and system which ought to suit his young attacker.
He’s instructed Philogene-Bidace, who has been handed a few first-team minutes in the Villa side here and there in the last couple of years, to go and grasp his opportunity in the second tier with both hands.
“Stoke was the club that showed the most interest, and for players you want the clubs to show interest. The manager spoke to Steven Gerrard about me, and then Steven Gerrard spoke to me,” Philogene-Bidace told Stoke’s media channel.
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“When he spoke to me, he told me that Stoke play the style of football I like to play. He wants me to attack, score goals, that’s what I like doing. We thought it was the best move.
“I’ve seen the manager is playing D’Margio [Wright-Phillips], and he’s a young boy. I’ve played against him, he’s very talented. I thought I’d have a chance here as well. I’m creative, I score goals, assist, do the job at the back - an all round player.”
Villa have also loaned out Keinan Davis to Nottingham Forest, Aaron Ramsey to Cheltenham Town and Caleb Chukwuemeka to Livingston. Others, like Cameron Archer, could yet follow before the end of the transfer window.
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