Ex-Villa star Thompson urges Delfouneso to grab his chance

Former Aston Villa star Garry Thompson has urged Nathan Delfouneso to grab his chance this season.

While most fans will have been disappointed that a star signing failed to materialise last month, former Villa Park favourite Thompson insists that a quiet January can only be a boost for Delfouneso.

He told the Sunday Mercury: “The fact that O’Neill hasn’t gone out and spent a fortune, may show that the kids have got a part to play this season,” said Thompson, a battering ram of a centre-forward for Villa between 1986 and 1988.

“If Villa get a couple of injuries up front then somebody will have to come in and carry it on, and it now looks as though that will be Nathan Delfouneso. Perhaps it’s all part of Martin O’Neill’s masterplan?

“Not bringing a striker in can only be a blessing in disguise as it will only help Delfouneso’s development.

“I’d seen Delfouneso play a few times and I always thought he could score good goals – the type of player who would take a defender on, beat him and then curl it in the top corner – but I wasn’t sure if he was a natural six-yard box finisher.

“However, I watched him against Brighton. I know they aren’t Premier League opposition, but he made some good runs, held the ball up well and this was while he was playing alongside Ashley Young, who is not a natural striker. I think he’s definitely got the potential and if he plays then, bit-by-bit, he’ll get stronger. He’s definitely got the makings of a good centre-forward.