Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Steve Bruce has pleaded with Aston Villa’s supporters to ‘get behind’ Josh Onomah.

Onomah, who joined in August on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur, has made 20 starts for Villa with a further 11 appearances coming from the bench across all competitions.

However, the 20-year-old has been heavily criticised by sections of the club’s fanbase in recent weeks after stepping in for star man Jack Grealish.

Onomah struggled against Fulham and Preston before being sarcastically cheered as he was substituted by some of the Villa fans who made the trip to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

But Bruce has called on the club’s fans to remember the England under-21 international is still learning the ropes.

Unprompted, Bruce said: “He is still only a young lad. To the supporters I say, get behind him. He has played 26 times for us, which is remarkable for a 20-year-old kid.

“He is only a boy, still learning his trade. Let’s not forget some of the really great performances he had for us. I hope they realise we need them to encourage him and get behind him. He needs their support. Let’s not forget it.

“He has come from Tottenham and we are forgetting he is the same age as Callum (O’Hare) and Keinan (Davis).

“He is a young player, who needs help learning the game but has been involved 28 times (in the Championship), which is remarkable. I didn’t think he would get anywhere near that, but away at Preston, at Bristol City, you can reel them off.

“You expect a young player to go up and down. Keinan is an example, we had to take him out for a month to freshen him up. Lets get behind the boy. When people are behind you, you get more rewards.”

Onomah is in line to start against Queens Park Rangers tomorrow with Grealish still nursing a calf injury and highly unlikely to feature.

“I expected to be leaving him out to a degree because I did not think it was possible for a 20-year-old to play that many times,” Bruce continued about Onomah. “It is usually three, four or five games and then give them a break.

“It is not just physically but emotionally, your first full season, playing in front of a big and expectant crowd, trying to get promotion.

“It is difficult for a young lad. Let’s not forget what he has done for us. He is going to be a very good player and he needs the fans' encouragement at the minute.”

More Villa news

Aussie midfielder Mile Jedinak has hailed Aston Villa’s ‘unity’ as the defining factor behind their transition from mid-table mediocrity to promotion hopefuls.

Steve Bruce has instilled a winning mentality at Bodymoor Heath and supporters have been taken aback by the togetherness in Villa’s first team.

A thrilling comeback victory at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday was followed by joyous scenes in front of a huge army of Villans in the away end.

Asked what the key ingredient to winning promotion is, Jedinak told avfc.co.uk: "I'd say togetherness is the most important thing, which is something I've seen a lot of in this side.

"You only need to look at the scenes at the final whistle against Sheffield Wednesday.

"There's a lot of unity here, and not just among the playing squad. The fans are really buying into this team and there's a real mentality here now that we're one big family – from players and coaches to staff and supporters.

"Things aren't always going to go right and they're not going to be good all of the time. But you've got to persist and get yourself out of those little problems when you do hit them – which we did at the weekend.

"It's natural for things like that to happen, what's important is that you keep believing throughout them and we'll get to where we want to be.

"The togetherness has definitely come on a lot since I joined the club 18 months ago. I've noticed when we do well now that there's a great feeling around the place – which is how it should be.

"We're entering the last stint of the season and you really want to feel that energy from all around the club. We'll feed off that buzz as players in any way we can to get ourselves over the line."

Villa have reached what Bruce calls the ‘tickly bit’ with 12 games remaining and a five team pull away.

Wolves are still huge favourites having led for virtually the entire season but a mini wobble has given Cardiff, Villa, Derby and Fulham a glimmer of hope.

However, while some players feel the need to scour the internet for the results of their rivals come 5pm on Saturday, Jedinak isn’t concerned.

He added: "Checking results is one way people look at it, but I don't do it. We've got to control our own destiny.

"We've still got to play a few of the teams in and around us, which gives us a good opportunity. A lot of them at home, too.

"Teams are going to take points off each other. Teams are going to drop points. It's the way it works, especially in this division.

"We need to make sure we're on the right side of the results as often as possible and you do that by putting in strong performances.

"We've bounced back now and started what hopefully is another winning run. We need to keep doing that until the end of the season."