Barry Bannan has been described by team-mate Marc Albrighton as one for the future at Aston Villa. Albrighton believes Bannan's breakthrough to the senior side during the early stages of this season is richly deserved, reports the Birmingham Mail.
The duo first played together in their early teens and have progressed through the academy ranks at Bodymoor Heath.
"He's an unbelievable prospect for the future. If he keeps getting his chance he'll keep proving what a good job he can do for the club.
"He's a really exciting player. When he gets the ball he can do anything with it.
"He'll always create something. He can see passes that other players can't."
Bannan's height held him back under Martin O'Neill but the diminutive midfielder has proved his ability on loan at Derby and Blackpool.
"He's gone out on loan a couple of times and both times he's come back with glowing reviews," said Albrighton.
"He helped Blackpool massively last season to achieve what they did.
"In the reserves he's been fantastic.
"He won't take any notice of stuff about his height. He knows as well as anybody if you give him the ball at his feet, he'll prove doubters wrong.
"I don't think the height will be any issue to him at all. Managers will look at him and say you'll beat him in the air early but they won't look at the fact that if you give him the ball at his feet he'll torture defenders."
Albrighton is relishing linking up with Bannan for the first team in the future, adding: "I think he's been here since he was 13 or 14 so I've been playing with him ever since.
"I love playing with him because he knows I'm going to be out wide and I know when he gets the ball he's going to be able to find me."
