Carla Ward has hailed the form of Laura Blindkilde Brown as 'sensational' following the teenager's maiden senior strike on Sunday.
Brown made just her second start for the first team during our thumping 7-0 win over Sunderland in the Conti Cup and continues to show bags of excitement and promise with every appearance.
Villa put their Championship opponents to the sword in the North East, with goals coming from Brown, Ramona Petzelberger, Remi Allen (2), Alisha Lehmann (2) and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.
But it was the 18-year-old who was singled out by her manager afterwards.
"Laura Brown's been fantastic in training and in games," beamed Ward.
"We've had a lot of enquiries about her going on loan this Christmas.
"We've considered it but what she's doing out there is giving us a headache.
"She's been sensational and she'll get better and better."
The enthusiastic forward made her first WSL appearance in a Villa shirt against Reading in October, and has since started twice in the Conti Cup.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Ward was keen to point out that ruthlessness will determine how far this Villa side can go during the 2021/22 campaign.
"If there was one complaint it's that we needed to be more ruthless in the final third. It's an area we've struggled in all season but I'm delighted we've scored seven."
However, there was praise aplenty for the job the players did in adverse conditions, as well as the preparations made by the staff during the leadup.
"I've not been in this week through illness so a credit to my staff, first and foremost, for the work they've done with the players," Ward admitted.
"They [players] might argue that I should stay away more often, but they were fantastic.
"It's tough sometimes, the pitch started to cut up and the rain was coming down.
"They were disciplined, they looked after the ball and they controlled the game."
Villa turn their attention back to league matters this weekend when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at the Banks's Stadium, before then hosting Blackburn Rovers in their final group stage game of the Conti Cup on the 15th. Tickets for both fixtures are available below.
