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Liverpool loanee Tiago Ilori believes he’s finally ready to make his Premier League debut for struggling Aston Villa.

The Portuguese centre-back has endured a miserable start to his season-long loan in the Midlands and has yet to make a senior appearance.

However, Ilori has now recovered from a troublesome groin injury and played the full game as Villa’s under-21s beat Derby on Monday evening.

The 22-year-old was on the bench for last Saturday’s draw at Southampton and has his sights set on a first-team bow at home to Arsenal this weekend.

“I haven’t played football for a good couple of months and it was great to play 90 minutes,” he said.

“I need consistency and to get match fit so to play for the under-21s was great - the win was important too.

“It’s been very frustrating. But I was on the bench on Saturday so I’m as close as I can be now.

“I want to be in there and helping the team, especially at this time. That’s what’s important.

“The draw was a good result for us on Saturday at Southampton. I think we all felt happy with a point but we were also a bit disappointed not to win after being in front. We’ll work hard now to get an even better result.”

Ilori’s Liverpool fate lies in the hands of new Villa boss Remi Garde.

Villa paid a £1million loan fee for Ilori back in September and have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season. The fee if Villa want to keep Ilori will be between £6million and £9million depending on the number of appearances he makes this term.

The London-born defender didn’t make a single first-team appearance for Liverpool following his £7million transfer from Sporting Lisbon in 2013.

However, he could be back at Melwood for pre-season next summer if Villa opt against buying him.