‘I know’ – Aston Villa ace makes Jack Grealish confession
Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey admits he gets a ‘real buzz’ when supporters chant his name.
The 20-year-old is the latest youngster to enter Villa’s first-team ranks and cement his place in the starting XI. Ramsey has enjoyed a stellar campaign in the Premier League following his breakthrough season last season.
He has made 31 league appearances for Villa this season and started all but one of Steven Gerrard’s first 22 games in charge. The England Under-21 have scored six goals and are also the club’s second top scorer this season.
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Ramsey put a bumper five-year contract in writing last week ahead of the game against Norwich City at Villa Park, which Gerrard’s side won 2-0 to end a recent winless run. As a Villa academy product, the midfielder has been with the club since the age of six and has come through the ranks.
And when asked how much of a boost it gave him when supporters chanted his name, Ramsey replied: “Obviously being a local lad I’ve been going to Villa Park since I was eight now .
“I know what it’s like to sing those songs, when I was singing about Jack (Grealish), so now for the fans to sing it about me, it gives me a real buzz to come out and play. I think especially in front of my friends and family to hear the fans chanting my name, it’s a good feeling.”
Speaking of Ramsey, Villa boss Gerrard said BirminghamLive: “I was very aware of the Ramseys because of that club’s performance in the Youth Cup. They obviously played against Liverpool in the final and I was aware of the commentators talking about the Ramsey brothers, as well as the Carneys (Chukwuemeka) and Tims (Iroegbunam), those around the game.
“It was probably only away from Arsenal that he rolled one in the top corner. I really liked the technique of that goal. I think that’s when I thought, ‘Ooh!’
“To score a goal like that, in an environment like Arsenal at that age, is normally a moment, being a lover of the game, where it makes you think, ‘Wait a minute, that kid could be a player! ‘
“Then obviously Dean (Smith) played it a bit more before I came on, but it’s only when you get close to someone on the training ground and see their level and their potential, you see the human being… That’s when you really get excited about the talent.
“I said it a bit. I don’t want to keep talking about JJ. I want him to play his football and protect it and manage it in the best way possible but, without a doubt, he’s someone that I want to build around this club going forward.”