Steven Gerrard wasted no time in recalling 19-year-old Kaine Kesler-Hayden from his season long loan spell at Swindon Town, after seeing how the young full-back fared against Manchester City in the FA Cup.
He made the bench for Aston Villa's recent win against Everton at Goodison Park but is yet to make his Premier League debut for the club. However, it is believed that Kelser-Hayden will be the main competition for Matty Cash in the right back position, as the two fight for a starting role.
He started his first game back for the U23s where Villa secured all three points in a 4-1 win. Despite this success, the mood was dampened after Kesler-Hayden was forced off just before half-time with a knock. He was able to leave the pitch himself, so the severity of the injury is unclear, but the coaching staff wasted no time in withdrawing the player from the game.
With the young right-back being the only real cover in this position after Axel Tuanzebe decided to cut his loan spell short in favour of first team football, Villa could be left short in this area.
Ezri Konsa is capable of playing right back if needs be. as well as Ashley Young who can fill in at multiple positions. However, full-backs are a vital aspect of how Gerrard likes his team to operate, the absence of a genuine player in this position could see the style of play suffer immensely.
In the remaining days of the transfer window Villa are being heavily linked with centre backs and centre midfielders. However, depending on the severity of this injury, they could lack the necessary depth in right back as well.
Gerrard has made intentions clear so far in this window, at each position in his squad he wants multiple players of a high quality that can compete for the position. Whether this is through new signings or academy prospects such as Carney Chukwuemeka and Kesler-Hayden. In the absence of this depth, Gerrard may be forced to look for new options at right back.
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