Hendrie weighs up Villa future
Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie admits he may have to consider his future this summer because of a lack of first-team opportunities.
Hendrie, who last week was given community service after pleading guilty to assault, has started only half a dozen matches during the current campaign.
Villa manager David O’Leary has preferred to operate with on-loan Newcastle midfielder James Milner in the right-sided midfield role.
Hendrie, who has been at Villa for more than a decade, has been granted a testimonial for the summer but concedes his days at the club may be numbered.
He told the Birmingham Mail: “Maybe I’m going to have to review my situation in the summer and see where I stand.
“I cannot afford for it to reach February before I make my first home start of the season again. I asked to go on loan before but I think I’ve got to get something permanent sorted.
“I think I’ve done well when I’ve come into the side but then I’ve found myself on the bench again.
“It’s not good for my career. I’m 29 in the summer and I’ve got to move forward and try to finish the season on a high.
“I’ve said all along that I would love to finish my career at Villa but I’ve got to the age now where I’ve got to start thinking about myself.
“I cannot be going through seasons nicking the odd appearance here and there. I need to feel I’m a bigger part of things.
“I need to feel I’m going to be in that starting 11 and at the moment I’m not a first-team regular. I’ve got to the age where I need to know what is going on.”
