Grant Returns Home

[Kingmouse]

Highly rated youngster Lee Grant has gone back to his roots after joining back up with York on a month’s loan. The big central defender has been granted a return to Bootham Crescent by Villa boss David O’Leary with the aim of gaining first team experience.

Lee’s was last on the City books in July 2002 before Aston Villa swooped on the 6’ 2’ defender and added him to their scholarship programme, with City bagging £50,000 in the process. Grant left his mark on York before his exit being the clubs second youngest player to appear for the first team when he was entered late into the City vs Bristol Rovers game in April 2002.

Lee fell out of favour with now Villa boss O’Leary despite playing for the Villa reserves, gaining international recognition through the England under-18’s and playing his part in the FA Youth Cup Final last season. Grant admitted that he may want away if Villa carry on overlooking him; "Unfortunately, the youth set-up has been changed (at Villa) and there’s always a chance that someone might see me and I'll get another opportunity to start again as a result."

The 18-year-old will be eager to see old acquaintances from his youth team days with Bryan Stewart being amongst the list of players still with City since Lee left when he was 16; "It's nice being back home. There are a few of the lads I used to play with who are now in the first team like Bryan Stewart.”

Grant played in the City Reserve match against Doncaster Rovers on Monday under the watchful gaze of caretaker-manager Viv Busby. The gaffer described Lee’s performance as "interesting” and tipped him to feature in the next reserve game on Monday; "It will be good to see what he's capable of. We've got another reserve game on Monday so we'll get another look at him then."

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_________________________Granted His Chance
_____________________ Pictures courtesy of the Evening Press

[Kingmouse]

Caretaker manager Viv Busby has negotiated a further month with Aston Villa for the services of young central defender Lee Grant. Busby decided he would like to keep the highly rated youngster for an extended period after two impressive displays for the Reserves. The two month loan means Grant will stay at Bootham Crescent until the 4th of January 2005.