Tom Heaton is on the recovery trail after suffering a serious knee injury in January and may have an uncertain future at Aston Villa due to the stiff competition for places.
However, Dean Smith has played down any suggestion that the 34-year-old could be loaned out when the winter transfer window opens in just over two weeks’ time.
Emiliano Martinez is first choice between the sticks, Jed Steer has provided cover and Lovre Kalinic is waiting in the wings, but it does seem that Heaton has an opportunity to get back into the side.
He was a regular in the team before his injury and Smith has insisted that he will be given a chance to prove his worth in the coming weeks.
The Villa manager told Birmingham Live: “I said to Tom that once we get to January we’ll have more of an idea of where we’re at with Tom and our goalkeeping situation. We’ve got five games before then so the important thing is for Tom to do all he can to get into the squad.”
When asked if Heaton could leave temporarily, Smith emphatically replied: “No.”
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Heaton has made three Premier League 2 appearances this season, getting 63 minutes in the under-23s’ 2-2 draw with their Burnley counterparts and playing the entirety of the 3-2 defeats to Fulham and Leeds United (Transfermarkt), so he is building up his match fitness.
Having been first choice for Villa’s senior side up to a year ago, it seems only right that Smith prefers to keep him at the club rather than farm him out on loan.
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