Jores Okore Can Benefit from Aston Villa Injuries Against Southampton
Aston Villa face up to a true defensive crisis going into their Monday night Premier League encounter at home to Southampton, but this may offer outcast Jores Okore the chance to prove his worth to manager Paul Lambert.
Centre-backs Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker all face a spell on the sidelines, per Ian Baker of the Daily Express.
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Lambert was far from pleased with the Swiss FA for their "mismanagement" of his "vital" centre-back Senderos, but he offered some encouraging words for Okore.
The manager proffered that "Okore is just coming back from an injury but he's getting better."
In truth, the Danish international has been fit for the entire 2014/15 season so far, with his absence a mystery to the many that consider the defender a highly talented option at the back.
If his potential, experience and international form are anything to go by, Okore should be higher than fifth choice at Villa.
With Lambert's first, second and third-choice centre-backs now out of contention for Monday night, Okore must grab this opportunity and stake a claim as a first-team mainstay at Villa Park.
Potential
Signed by Lambert on a four-year deal in the summer of 2013, Okore joined Villa with immense potential, honed at Denmark Superliga club FC Nordsjaelland.
A year previous, legendary Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel told Sky Sports (h/t Goal.com) that he had recommended the defender to then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after a promising display against Chelsea in the Champions League, despite Nordsjaelland losing 4-0.
Schmeichel claimed "I've already mentioned him to Sir Alex, of course. I think everybody who's watched him play...has just kept an eye on this fellow, because he is something."
The former United man continued by detailing the defender's attributes:
"We've always known he was quick, we've always known the strength. He's good in the air, we've never seen him on this stage before at this level, and the way he played today was a big surprise for me, that he could actually pass the ball as he did and take part in open play.
"
These are, of course, all of the physical qualities that make a top-class central defender—arguably, this is the calibre of defender that Villa desperately need.
Okore's words on joining the club, per AVFC.co.uk, underline an intelligence, realism and ambition that should partner these raw qualities.
The then-20-year-old immediately understood the challenge ahead: "We have a lot to show and we have a long way to go. We want to get to an even higher level of performance and show people who we are, that we can be a really good team."
Okore continued that "I have to come in and work hard and that's what I intend to do. I have a really good coach who will help me to perform my role, to be a leader in the squad, to take responsibility and perform well."
Two years after Schmeichel's glowing appraisal however, and Okore continues to struggle to make an impression under Lambert.
Injuries and the Sidelines
Clearly, a large factor in this stems from the 22-year-old suffering a serious anterior cruciate ligament rupture on his third start for the club, against Newcastle United, per BBC Sport.
That injury kept Okore out for the entire season.
Last term, without Okore, Villa struggled to contain opposing forwards, and they finished just five points off the relegation zone in 15th, having conceded 61 goals.
This was the fifth worst defensive record in the Premier League for 2013/14.
However, on his return from injury this summer, Okore told BBC WM 95.6, per BBC Sport, that "hopefully, I can get back to my old self and get even better and start again. I want to defend with my heart and be solid, powerful and aggressive."
On a return from such a serious injury, it can almost be forgiven for a player to remain initially reserved on the pitch when it comes to the physical side of the game.
But Okore's pledge to defend with aggression shows the Dane's commitment to the cause.
Unfortunately, Okore is yet to feature for the Villans in 2014/15, and he is considering his future, according to The Telegraph's John Percy.
Percy quotes the defender, who claims "I came to Villa to play and I am going to fight to make that happen. But at the same time I need to play, so I don't want to exclude anything when it comes to the coming transfer window."
This should represent a wake-up call for Lambert, who could lose a young talent not only with great potential, but also the ability to make an instant impact in the Premier League.
The first olive branch should come against Southampton.
Redemption
After such a lengthy absence, initially disappointing due to injury and then a lingering mystery following his recovery, Villa's immense challenge at home to second-placed Southampton presents a chance for Okore to prove his mettle.
With the Dane likely deployed alongside Ciaran Clark, Villa will need to depend on a youthful central defensive partnership, but one which possesses a large measure of leadership.
Clark has captained Villa in the past, while Okore's exploits for the Danish U21 side of late prove his authority.
"Undefeated as a skipper!! For the u21 and a Clean sheet!! Nice win today Denmark!!
— Jores Okore (@JoresOkore) November 17, 2014"
The promising young international side sit top of their UEFA U21 Championships 2015 qualification group, having conceded just nine goals from 10 games, per UEFA.com; since Okore's promotion to captain, the side have yet to concede once.
The 22-year-old is clearly at a decent level of match fitness and has all of the qualities to become a truly dominant centre-back, partnered with an age-defying experience.
Why Okore is behind Senderos and Baker in the battle to partner captain Vlaar in Lambert's back four remains a bemusing truth.
The side are in desperate need of a defender capable of dominating the game physically, as well as possessing the intelligence to push their style of play forward.
Against Southampton at Villa Park on Monday night, Jores Okore should be gifted a rare opportunity to impress manager Paul Lambert—the defender must take it.
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