---
title: "Ashley Preece backs Jed Steer to ‘stick around’ despite lack of game-time"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/03/ashley-preece-backs-jed-steer-to-stick-around/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2020-12-03T20:00:52Z"
modified: "2020-12-03T20:00:52Z"
---

# Ashley Preece backs Jed Steer to ‘stick around’ despite lack of game-time

[Jed Steer](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/02/11/villa-fans-still-praising-jed-steer-after-playoff-heroics-last-season/) could have an uncertain future at Aston Villa as he’s behind Emiliano Martinez in the pecking order and could lose his place as their main backup when Tom Heaton returns from injury. However, Ashley Preece of [Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-january-transfer-window-19345470) believes he could stay regardless.

The 28-year-old has made only [two appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jed-steer/leistungsdaten/spieler/110867) in all competitions this season, both in the Carabao Cup, as he’s spent most of the campaign as an unused substitute. Since Villa were promoted to the Premier League in 2019, Steer has only managed [eight minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jed-steer/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/110867/plus/0/saison/2019/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/405) of top-flight football.

Preece predicts that Heaton will soon replace Steer when fully fit but is adamant that the latter still has a future at Villa, writing: ‘Heaton could well come in to replace Jed Steer on Villa’s first-team bench in the upcoming weeks. Steer will, you suspect, stick around after he penned a long-term contract last summer.’

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

The 28-year-old [signed a four-year deal](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48690374#:~:text=Aston%20Villa%20goalkeeper%20Jed%20Steer,promotion%20via%20the%20play%2Doffs.) in the summer of 2019 as reward for his form in Villa’s promotion-winning season (19 Championship [appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jed-steer/leistungsdaten/spieler/110867/plus/0?saison=2018), 12 goals conceded, six clean sheets), but he has gone from being a regular in the starting lineup to now being on the periphery.

Smith still has Lovre Kalinic on the books, too, so there’s a lot of competition between the sticks for Steer.

***In other news, Dean Smith gives an update on [one player](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/03/keinan-davis-targeting-wolves-game-injury-return/) whose return to action could be imminent.***