With a run of 11 unbeaten games in the Premier League, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have slowly picked up the pace in the race to the top of the table this season.
The Red Devils, have finally found a winning combination that is showing some consistency in the domestic league and the manager will look to stick with a regular starting XI that can win him even the toughest of the games.
However, the will not stop of the Portuguese from making a number of changes to the squad in January and with the window already open, he has been a busy man.
The former Real Madrid manager is not happy with the options at his disposal this season so far and has been looking to add a few players to the squad while also letting a few leave the club and one such player who has now completed a move away from the club is goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The 23-year old English shot stopper has been at the club for a while now and has been deputising for David de Gea and Sergio Romero, the two senior players in his position in the squad.
He is yet to start a game at the Old Trafford this season and Mourinho revealed that he wanted the youngster to find some regular game time elsewhere.
Johnstone, who has spent time on loan at Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil, Doncaster Rovers (twice) and his hometown club Preston (twice), has been influential for every club he has played for and he played an important role in helping Preston to the Championship in 2014-15.
And he has yet again been sent on loan, this time to the Villa Park as Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce, is desperate to add to his goalkeeping options in the squad.
The 23-year old has completed a move to Aston Villa on loan till the end of the season. This move is his 8th spell out on loan from Manchester United in his time at the club.
Speaking to the media about his move, Johnstone said, “It’s a massive opportunity. Look at the size of the club. Look at the manager and his track record. Look at the players, the fans. You can’t turn down something like this.”
“I’m really excited to be here. Aston Villa were interested and it’s an opportunity I jumped at. It’s one you simply can’t turn down. I can’t wait to work with Steve Bruce too. I’ve heard very good things about the manager. You can see his track record. He’s good for the club and I can’t wait to get going now,” he added.
Mourinho also brought back young Joel Pereira from Portugal, by cutting his loan deal short, leaving this move as the only option for the 23-year old.
Do you think this move for Sam Johnstone is the right decision by Mourinho?