Steven Gerrard maps out exciting plan for Aston Villa trio

Steven Gerrard says he's "looking forward" to working with Aston Villa's impressive youngsters who've made their mark in the EFL this season. Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene-Bidace returned to Bodymoor Heath today to train with Villa's first-team - while 18-year-old Kaine Kesler Hayden will check back in later this week after he missed out on the League One play-off final with MK Dons.

Striker Archer, meanwhile, picked up goal of the season for loan club Preston and rattled in seven in his 20 Championship matches for Ryan Lowe's men. The 20-year-old became a firm fans' favourite at Deepdale and boss Lowe has already said that he wants him for a second term should Villa sanction a loan in the summer.

As for Philogene-Bidace, the winger made 11 appearances for Stoke City, scoring once, while also having to deal with an injury which ruled him out for six games. "Jaden has real quality and you could see that immediately," Potters boss Michael O'Neill said of the England under-20 attacker. "Every time he was on the ball you sensed something could happen, he is an exciting player who loves being on the ball."

Both Archer and Philogene-Bidace will continue to train with Villa for the final four fixtures - but the pair are ineligible to feature in the Premier League due to EFL rules. As for Gerrard, the boss did confirm that the loan duo, plus Kesler Hayden, will play a big part in pre-season with Villa set to jet into Australia in mid-July. On-loan striker Keinan Davis, meanwhile, is hopeful of a return for Nottingham Forest in the play-offs after missing the last six matches due to a hamstring injury. Fellow loanees Finn Azaz - crowned League Two player of the year for Newport County - and Aaron Ramsey have both returned