Rooney did very well in that game, and at Villa Park - I did not see the Everton leg - he was superb and looked like a25 year old at age 17. Hitting the bar - and the villa keeper did not move. And I agree that the chances of getting on in the senior squads are always limited nowadays. But with Villa, the coaching set up has to be a problem. I could not see Albrighton developing as he has with Leicester, and Cahill was risking his career going to a smaller club - but they developed him. Steve Davis likewise and I suspect Barry Bannan will get to a PRem Club as he is playing well regularly.
Jack is =indeed in the U21 squad and he has the talent, but whether the mentality is another matter. How Bruce handles him will be a test of Bruce as well as Grealish. It helps to have other kids around you week to week, and I don't see any others. Little had John Gidman and other good young players on the fringe, its easier to develop with a few mates around. But basically it is down to the people who work with the youngsters at Bodymoor, and I wonder if Andre Green and Co are getting the best coaching. We can pick the talent. What happened to the lad Arsenal paid a fortune for? If he had had a career path at Villa maybe he would have stayed rather than vanishing at the Emirates. Villa are not seen as a place to develop a career. SO we are back to Cahill going.
Given there is no money this season, Bruce has to be seen to develop young talent.