Young Aston Villa winger 'knows what it takes' to impress Steven Gerrard

Not too many Aston Villa supporters know an awful lot about Tyreik Wright. The 20-year-old has been at Villa approaching four years now after being scouted playing for Lakewood Athletic near his home in County Cork.

Wright, a left-footed winger, is currently out on loan at Colchester where he's made nine appearances since joining the League Two club on deadline day back in January. Prior to that, Wright endured an in-and-out time of on loan at Salford City.

"It was a risk and it never worked out," Wright said of his Salford stint. "I was in the team and then international duty came along, players took their chances when I was away and I never got a sniff after that. That won't happen this time, I feel like I can go back and smash it and play games again.

"Going to Colchester, I had a chat with myself about what I really want in the future, how bad I want it. I'm enjoying it a lot more and I feel like myself again. I lost myself a bit at Salford. I haven't been home to Cork in two years, I was missing family a lot, there have been family problems, but you have to deal with it.

"Most of it was game time, I feel like I should be playing every game but it didn't go that way and you move on. It was difficult, there were times I was on the phone, not crying but upset, to my mum. She came over this week to see how I was and she was at my game on Monday. Seeing family helps a lot."

Now fully focused on finishing the season well, Wright hasn't ruled out impressing Steven Gerrard and the first-team when pre-season begins again at Bodymoor Heath in July. "I want to play first team football, I want to play Premier League football," said Wright. If it doesn't happen at Villa, I'll be definitely looking to see what other options