Aston Villa right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden has joined Championship side Preston North End on a season-long loan.
Villa’s academy has produced a host of top talent over the years, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden hoping to join many other Bodymoor Heath graduates in the near future.
The 21-year-old has embarked on loan spells at Swindon Town, Huddersfield Town, MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle so far in his career, with a new challenge now awaiting the defender.
This week, it was announced that Kesler-Hayden has returned to the Championship to join Preston North End for the season.
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Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s loan to Preston North End shows mistake Unai Emery made
Last season was a frustrating one for Kesler-Hayden, who was gaining vital experience at Plymouth Argyle before being recalled by Emery.
The youngster’s recall represents one of the few mistakes the manager has made since arriving at Villa back in 2022.
Before returning to Villa in January, the 21-year-old was playing regular football at Home Park, where he impressed at right-back.
Emery decided to recall the Englishman due to his concern at Villa’s lack of depth in the position, however, Kesler-Hayden went on to play just nine minutes for the club between his return and the end of the season.
Upon leaving Argyle, former Pilgrims boss Ian Foster admitted that the Bodymoor jewel was ‘really disappointed’ to see his loan spell come to an end, via BBC.
“He’s a lovely kid and he was really disappointed to be honest,” Foster said.
“I don’t mean that he doesn’t want to play for Aston Villa, of course he does, but I think he was just enjoying it so much down here, playing regularly and we see Kaine as someone we could help develop.”
Now leaving Villa this summer, there will be hope from the defender’s point of view that Emery doesn’t make the same mistake.
Villa could have utilised Kesler-Hayden this season
Had Kesler-Hayden remained at Argyle, he could have returned to Villa as a stronger player and perhaps, a defender ready to offer something to Emery’s plans.
Instead, the 21-year-old was stripped of game time for five months which understandably would have hindered his progression at such a crucial point in his budding career.
Now, the defender has the opportunity to have a strong season back in the Championship, where he will hope to impress at Preston as much as he did at Argyle last term.
Emery must leave the youngster to develop in the second tier, with the results having the potential to be huge for Villa as soon as next year.
