Kevin Toner has described making his debut as a ‘dream come true’ as he begins to establish himself in Villa’s starting eleven.
Toner, who made his debut as a substitute during the 4-2 home defeat to Southampton, has since started against Watford and Newcastle and has impressed at both centre back and left back in his two starts for Villa.
Having joined the Villa academy in 2012, Toner finally made his professional debut earlier this season, playing six games for Kidderminster Harries in the National League during a one month loan spell from September to October.
Speaking to the Villa website, the Irish centre-back said:
Everyone was delighted for me. I had comments coming through from people I used to play football with back home when I was younger too. It was a good feeling.
I know it’s a cliché but it was a dream come true. You work all your life to say you’ve played in the Premier League.
To do it at a young age is an achievement in itself. My heart was pumping.
Toner also spoke about his loan spell with Kidderminster Harries saying:It was different,
It was nice to go out on loan and play men’s football and see what it’s all about.
It is all about getting points on the board and not so much about playing nice football.
It is a lot more physical so you have got to step up and show you are not a kid any more.
He also spoke about meeting Villa legend Paul McGrath, saying that the former Villa centre-back was a ‘total hero’.
When we were out training he came over to see Gordon Cowans,
All the boys were tapping each other saying ‘look, it’s Paul McGrath’.
It might not have meant as much to some of the other boys but as an Irishman it was a massive thing for me.
He’s a total hero in Ireland. I was definitely star struck.
It was great to see him. I was getting messages from people back home that evening, saying: ‘Did you get to speak to him?’
He was a quality player and someone who commands total respect in the game.
Have you been impressed with Toner in his two starts so far for Villa?
