Lewis Kinsella (right) challenges Chelsea’s Alex Kiwomya in the NextGen Series final (Picture: Getty Images)

When Aston Villa beat Chelsea in the 2013 NextGen Series final – the youth-team version of the Champions League – many predicted a bright future for the club.

Two years on, four of that side have graduated to the first-team – albeit briefly – and on Saturday talented left-back Lewis Kinsella could become the fifth.

Injuries to Kieran Richardson (definitely out) and Aly Cissokho (struggling) leaves a vacancy in that position ahead of the trip to Newcastle, and Kinsella may be the beneficiary.

The 20-year-old has been training with Tim Sherwood’s group recently after impressing in the development squad and might get the nod at St. James’s Park ahead of left-footed centre-back Nathan Baker.




Here’s the lowdown on the man who could be Villa’s long-term left-back…

Who is he?

A Watford-born 20-year-old who spent his formative footballing career in Arsenal’s academy. Kinsella was pushed out only by an influx of arrivals in his position and left while an Under-16 player. He was snapped up by Villa after coming highly-recommended by the Gunners’ coaching staff.

Any relation to Mark Kinsella?

No. Next.

Kieran Richardson will miss Aston Villa’s trip to Newcastle through injury (Picture: Getty Images)

Oh. OK. How’s he done at Villa?

In 2011-12 he played in all bar one of Villa’s first NextGen campaign, which ended at the quarter-finals. In the group stage, he scored the late winner in a 2-1 victory in Istanbul over Fenerbahce and playing a big part in a 3-0 triumph over the talented Ajax academy. Kinsella missed most of the following year’s group games through injury but went on to establish himself as a key figure in the team that went on to win the competition. Since then, he’s progressed into the reserves and put in a string of consistent performances.

No time on loan then?

In an interview 18 months ago he did say he wanted to be given first-team football somewhere, and there was talk of a move to MK Dons earlier in the season, but nothing has materialised. Gary Cahill, Gabby Agbonlahor, Nathan Baker and Andi Weimann all had loan spells to gain experience before breaking into the Villa team – but Gareth Barry, Lee Hendrie, Darius Vassell and Ciaran Clark didn’t. Make of that what you will.

Is he ready be thrown in at the deep end?

I’m sure Tim Sherwood would rather rely on the experience of Cissokho or Richardson but while the former can defend and the latter can cross, neither seem to do be able to do both. Kinsella’s displays in the reserves – albeit at a vastly inferior level to the hothouse of the Premier League – have shown him to be proficient up and down the left side. If selected, it’ll be fascinating to see how he does against Yoann Gouffran.

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