DEAN SMITH does not think he is taking a gamble by signing Danny Drinkwater.
The Aston Villa boss looked his new on-loan midfielder in the eye and saw a hunger to prove himself.
Danny Drinkwater could revive his career at Aston Villa like Tyrone Mings did, according to boss Dean SmithCredit: Getty – Contributor
It comes after a couple of off-field incidents — and a serious lack of game time.
Smith said: “It hasn’t happened for him at Chelsea.
“We’re going to give him an environment where he can flourish and he looks really hungry.
“Everybody knows about him from his Premier League winning season at Leicester.
‘SIMILARITIES TO MINGS’
“He got the move to Chelsea and it didn’t work out.
“He had three managers in a short space of time and proving yourself among the quality Chelsea possess is tough.
“Then he’s had the loan to Burnley and hasn’t played as much as he would have liked to.
“However, I see similarities to when we brought Tyrone Mings in last season from Bournemouth.
“He hadn’t played many games either — now he’s playing for England.”
Drinkwater, who is cup-tied for tonight’s semi- final with Leicester, has joined on a £110,000-per-week loan to the end of the season. It will ease their midfield injury crisis, with John McGinn out until March with a fractured ankle.
Drinkwater only played two games at Turf Moor and was also involved in an incident outside a Manchester nightclub.
Last term he was fined £200,000 by Chelsea after being found guilty of drink-driving.
But despite all that, Smith said bringing him in was a no-brainer.
He added: “It’s an opportunity for both of us. I don’t see it as a gamble. I see it as a top quality signing.”
Under Premier League rules, the signing means Villa cannot have another loan from Chelsea.
And that means a move for striker Olivier Giroud would have to be on a permanent deal.
VILLA (likely): Nyland; Konsa, Mings, Hause; Guilbert, Luiz, Nakamba, Taylor; Trezeguet, Kodjia, Grealish.
Leicester vs Aston Villa – Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and betting odds for Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
