Cameron Archer’s Aston Villa career is taking a turn this morning after the sacking of Steven Gerrard late on Thursday night.
Archer remains close to the heart of Preston North End fans after his loan spell earlier this year.
Archer joined PNE on loan for in January as Ryan Lowe as able to strike a favour with friend and then-Villa boss Steven Gerrard.
With seven goals in 20 appearances for North End, Archer was an outstanding loan addition.
The winner against Blackpool in April made Archer a PNE hero for life and Lowe spent most of the summer hoping for a return.
However, Gerrard chose to keep hold of Archer and blocked a move back to North End.
Archer has yet to start a Premier League game though and his total league minutes for this season stands at just 28.
Gerrard snapped at one reporter earlier this month for asking why Archer wasn’t playing, with Gerrard scouting like a man under pressure.
Gerrard is now out of a job as Villa confirmed on Thursday night that they have sacked the Liverpool legend.
Villa were beaten 3-0 away at Fulham last night with Villa turning in yet another rudderless performance.
That’s now four games without a win and just two wins in 11 to start the season, leaving Villa to axe Gerrard less than a year since appointing him.
Archer will now have a new manager to impress very soon and he will be hoping to shine in order to surpass Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings in the Villa pecking order.
Yet if a new boss doesn’t see a first-team role for Archer just yet, PNE will surely be ready and waiting with a January offer to take him back on loan.
North End fans will always wish Archer the best but will also keep close tabs on Villa’s managerial situation just in case it opens the door for the striker to come back in 2023.