BREAKING

Loan Goal: Ritchie De Laet, a striker these days, scores a ‘screamer’.

RITCHIE DE LAET

The former Leicester City defender, unceremoniously shipped out by Steve Bruce, has been catching the eye playing for Melbourne City.

Better recognised as a defender throughout his senior career, De Laet came through the youth ranks as an attacking midfielder.

Owing to injury problems in Melbourne, he’s been redeployed to a role further up the pitch, he’s now scored seven times, including this absolute belter.

De Laet had little luck at Villa having stepped down from the Premier League, suffering a season ending injury having featured only a handful of times.

What with the recuperation time, a change of management and Steve Bruce completely losing his way in terms of any discernible defensive plan, De Laet was deemed surplus to requirements.

It’s unclear if the Belgian is in Dean Smith’s plans going forward at all, but it is known that with De Laet having moved himself and his young family to Australia, that a return to Europe is remote.

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