Being in demand is always a compliment. But it is a state of affairs that Steve Bruce doesn’t want to know too much about. Not when it comes to Robert Snodgrass.
Snodgrass has been in fine form of late. And Bruce will be slow to allow one of his most in form players slip from his grasp.
If David Moyes does indeed want Snodgrass to return from his loan deal to West Ham as reported, it is unlikely the Villa manager will allow the deal to come about easily. Having paid the London club £2M for his services, Moyes may ultimately be reluctant to use money siphoned aside for bulking his squad up in the window. For the sake of Villa’s promotion hopes, it’s hoped the Scottish international will see out the season at Villa Park.
The performance of Snodgrass in Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Nottingham Forest, was illustrative of how strong a role he is playing at present. The sharpness and pace of his delivery for Scott Hogan’s winning goal was laced with precision. His acute delivery to the returning John Terry saw the former Chelsea captain almost score, only to see his header strike the crossbar. Snodgrass himself almost added a second.
His form is a continuation of fine performances that coincided with Villa’s increasingly competent displays over the Christmas period – these having continued into the New Year. Three goals in the victories over Middlesbrough and Bristol City, coupled with attacking finesse that has injected real verve into Villa’s approach play.
Bruce was gushing in his praise. Speaking on the club’s official website, he said: “I shouldn’t say he rolled back the years, but that’s what he did. They tried to kick him into the Trent Bridge today, and he just kept getting up for more. It was a great performance from him. He was terrific.”
Bruce will be hoping that he will have ample opportunity to rush to praise Snodgrass in the coming months. For that to happen, the cessation of his loan deal from West Ham, simply cannot happen.
