One of Aston Villa’s loan prospects has been axed from a Championship side’s starting XI.
Lino Sousa completed a deadline-day move to Plymouth Argyle just hours after signing for Villa.
The England under-19 international signed from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, having been involved in the Gunners’ first-team squads this season.
However, it’s fair to say Sousa’s loan spell hasn’t entirely gone as planned thus far.
Lino Sousa snubbed from Plymouth Argyle starting XI
Sousa has made just one Championship start, coming in Plymouth’s most recent fixture against Coventry City.
Ian Foster gave the 19-year-old 61 minutes before being substituted in the second half.
Unfortunately, Sousa’s performance haven’t caught the eye, with the left-back axed to the bench for Argyle’s clash against Leeds United on Saturday lunchtime.
It’s been a tough start to life in Devon, particularly after the excitement surrounding Sousa’s signing.
“Lino is somebody that I’ve known for a while,” Foster told Plymouth’s official website.
“I’ve always been excited by his performances at Arsenal and with the England development teams.”
He added: “He’s a really exciting player with huge potential, and I think you can see why the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa have taken him.
“He’ll come in, in competition on the left-hand side of the pitch. He’s got a lovely left foot; he’s athletic; he can handle the ball in tight areas; he can defend in 1v1 situations, and he’s good in the final phase as well.”
Considering the praise Foster has given Sousa, it’s surprising to see the youngster’s chances limited during the early part of his loan spell.
Between now and the end of the season, it will be necessary for the left-back to feature regularly and to develop as much as possible.
Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno are 30 and need a younger prospect to challenge in the left-back role. It’s now up to Sousa to grab the opportunity with both hands when it presents itself.
If Plymouth can pull themselves away from the relegation battle, Foster should gift the former Arsenal gem more minutes between now and the end of the season.
