Josh Barton
As well as bagging a brace in an 11-3 win over MK Dons, he scored on consecutive weekends against Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester city. Barton, from Lugan in Northern Ireland, was also one of Villa's standout performers in the Hong Kong International Soccer Sevens. He scored Villa's first goal of the tournament in a victory over host team Hong Kong Football Club. Barton has impressed the club's academy staff with his blistering pace and his crossing ability. In 2010-11, he had a significant impact on Villa's run to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals. It was his menacing run and cross that finally broke the deadlock in a tricky third round clash at Bristol Rovers when Tony McAndrew's team emerged as 1-0 winners thanks to a late own goal. Academy manager Bryan Jones described the right-sided midfielder as having "pace reminiscent of Gabby Agbonlahor". Barton, who impressed Villa's coaching staff during a trial match for the U16s in summer 2010, also made a couple of appearances for the reserves in 2010-11. A regular fixture in that season's Barclays Premier Academy League Group B title-winning side, he scored two league goals - an opening day strike in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool and another in the 8-2 win over MK Dons. |
