Pravda: Halfhuid joins Dutch side Volendam on loan

[Legion]

Arsenio Halfhuid makes loan move to Eerste Divisie side

Versatile Dutchman Arsenio Halfhuid has returned to his homeland for a loan spell with Volendam.

The 19-year-old will spend the rest of the season at Volendam, who play in the Eerste Divisie - Holland's second division.

Halfhuid was a revelation for Villa's youth side last season, playing both as a defender and a striker.

Although the former Excelsior Rotterdam trainee is primarily a centre-back, he made a successful transition to goalscoring forward.

With a number of strikers hit by injuries, youth team coach Tony McAndrew deployed Halfhuid up front and it proved to be an inspired decision.

The powerhouse from the Netherlands scored nine goals in all competitions - including four during Villa's run to the FA Youth Cup final.

His wonder strike against West Bromwich Albion in round four was followed by a terrific hat-trick in the following round against Millwall.

Since then, Halfhuid has been equally comfortable playing up front or at the back and he has gone on to represent Kevin MacDonald's reserves side this season.

Halfhuid is the latest product of Villa's highly-successful Academy to go out on loan to gain valuable first team experience.

Shane Lowry [Sheffield United], Andreas Weimann [Watford] and Jonathan Hogg [Portsmouth] are all currently enjoying loan spells, while Harry Forrester spent the first half of the campaign at Scottish Premier League outfit Kilmarnock.