Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has offered starlets Tommi O’Reilly and Josh Feeney ‘the chance of a lifetime’ after getting them involved in first-team training at Villa Park, according to journalist Dean Jones. Gerrard, who was appointed as the Midlands giants’ boss last November, spent more than £60million on bolstering his squad during the summer transfer window but is still looking to offer opportunities to the club’s best up-and-coming talent.
O’Reilly and Feeney were spotted training with the first-team squad at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath base as Gerrard’s squad prepared to face Leicester City last week.
Although the Premier League clash did not go ahead as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the youngsters will be keen to make the step up and earn their senior debuts in the not-too-distant future.
O’Reilly penned his first professional contract with Villa in March and was an unused substitute on four occasions last season as Gerrard looked to integrate the 18-year-old into the first-team squad.