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da realbet： January signing Lovre Kalinic sat on the Aston Villa substitutes’ bench for the third match running and watched Jed Steer keep his second successive clean sheet against Birmingham City on Sunday, and manager Dean Smith’s post-match comments suggest the recent addition won’t be starting again anytime soon.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Midlands outfit agreed a deal to sign the 28-year-old on a four-and-a-half year deal from Gent just prior to the January transfer window opening, and he was thrust straight into action on January 5 in the FA Cup following Orjan Nyland’s Achilles injury.
That was the first of eight successive appearances in all competitions for the Croatia international, before he suffered concussion during the 2-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion last month and was taken off at half-time.
Despite recovering he has been an unused substitute in every fixture since, and watched Steer produce another impressive display between the sticks against arch-rivals Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Sunday.
What did Smith say?
Speaking post-match, via The Birmingham Mail, the Villa boss said: “I signed Kalinic because of the ability he has got.
“I probably didn’t want to throw Kalinic in as early as we did but we had to. Unfortunately Nyland ruptured his Achilles.
“I gave Jed the chance when Kalinic got concussed. He’s taken it. I’ve said before that he doesn’t have too many shots to save.
“Everything he did today except from his last goal-kick was good. He’s very vocal and has got a presence about him.
“Kalinic has come from a league where he was more protected.”
Smith’s words certainly suggest that he doesn’t feel the Croatian is ready to start on a regular basis right now, and with Villa making a late promotion push he appears unlikely to get another chance before the end of the campaign, unless Steer makes a bad error or gets injured himself.