Could this be the season for Villa’s forgotten man: ‘Libor Kosak’?

In September 2013, Paul Lambert, then manager of Aston Villa, managed to secure the signature of a player who was expected to provide unyielding competition for the club’s talisman, and now departed, Christian Benteke. Top scorer in the previous season’s Europa League for Lazio, yet largely unheard of, this six foot three, gangly Czech striker was to play a pivotal role in raising the profile of Villa’s attacking threat. Only five months later, in what was described as an ‘innocuous’ tackle in training, suffered by the studs of fellow teammate, Ciaran Clarke, the striker’s season came to an abrupt halt. A horrific leg break was the verdict and the manger was then left short of options up front.

Due to return more readily, further medical complications meant that not only did the forward miss the remainder of the 2013-14 season, the entire 2014-15 season was also regrettably overlooked. Now, fast forward eighteen months from his original setback, with a new manager, a restored leg, a fresh lease of life and already a pre-season goal to his tally, this season could well be the breakthrough for Villa’s forgotten man ‘Libor Kosak’.

Little is still known about the potential of Kosak and there is the impending anxiety that in the rapid reshaping and structuring of the club under Tim Sherwood, if the striker fails to make an instant impact in what will be another season of transition, his services could be shipped elsewhere. Recovering the seven million will be difficult if this was to be the situation but for a player who made such an encouraging impression in the Europa League competition and who scored four goals in fifteen premier league appearances, it is not difficult to envisage why so much was invested in a player who like most, always dreamed of playing in the premier league.

Villa’s squad is currently threadbare and the depth of their strike force is certainly a concern. Only Gabby Agbonglahor has any real premier league experience with players like Callum Robinson and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy merely rookies looking to break into the starting eleven.

Tim Sherwood is obviously aware of the fragilities within his attacking department and if Gabby was to suffer an injury, with Benteke now plying his trade elsewhere, Villa would suffer enormously. The club are on the verge of making another coup signing in ‘Jordan Ayew’ and are also rumored to be interested in Rennes’ star striker ‘Paul Georges-Ntep’ so it is clear that the manager in rebuilding the squad sees his forward line as top priority and let’s face it: life without Benteke will hit the club hard.

Libor Kosak has a point to prove and the manger has a proven track record of getting the best out of troubled strikers. Kosak is not the man to replace Benteke but could prove to be an important addition to Aston Villa’s shy goal tally. Back from injury, he is essentially a new signing and if he can replicate the form he showed before his injury, Villa will have a much better chance of securing a top half finish which is clearly the aim.

Article by Luke Heyes

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