Jordan Bowery - Aston Villa's one for the future - Or the present?

Rewind back to the end of August this year and fans of Aston Villa were glued to TV and computer screens waiting for the announcement of a big name signing.

Names such as Andy Carroll, Jermaine Defoe and Daniel Sturridge were bouncing about fan chat forums like an optimistic pinball.

Optimism turned to confusion when an announcement came that Lambert had purchased a League Two striker from Chesterfield for £500,000.

Many fans began frantically typing the name ‘Jordan Bowery’ into internet search engines, wanting to know who he was. After all, with 12 goals in 48 appearances, it was hardly a name that had set League Two on fire.

Lambert however had seen something in the 21-year-old, namely the ‘young, raw and hungry’ trait that the Scot is attempting to instil at Villa Park.

“Jordan’s a good player. The hunger will be there for him and he could surprise a few people,” said Lambert. “But if he steps up to the plate like I think then I would have no hesitation in throwing him in now whatsoever.”

Villa fans got to witness a glimpse of this talent, during Monday night’s reserve game with Tottenham Hotspur, where Bowery made a positive impression. In a 3-3 draw he scored his first goal in a claret and blue shirt, and also provided an assist.

Villa legend Gordan Cowan’s was happy with his start, "Jordan Bowery is handful, he is a big, powerful lad, a good target man and he has got pace as well. He pulls off the shoulders of defenders and gets behind people.

"It is a big thing for him to get his first goal for the football club."

With Darren Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke, and Andreas Weimann currently heading the list of striking options at Aston Villa Bowery is still a long way off the senior squad, but this is certainly gentle progress for a player that Paul Lambert feels will be making a big impact in the future.

How soon before Villa see Bowery in the first team squad?

image: © ellbrown