With the Premier League season now winding down, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith may look to consider unleashing some of the club's brightest young talents - starting with tonight's game against Everton.

And, one player who's been in the headlines more than most is Carney Chukwuemeka.

Reports have suggested that Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are leading the queue to land the 17-year-old in the summer, and it was even claimed that his potential exit was a lot down to Villa themselves.

Football Insider have claimed that Chukwuemeka wants to quit Smith's side because of "broken promises" from the club, and that "Villa chiefs are aware of the youngster’s stance and have reacted by promoting him to the first team match-day squad."

The report adds however that "it remains to be seen whether the promotion, and even the possibility of a first top-flight appearance before the season end, is enough to keep the teenager."

The only way to show Chukwuemeka that he has a future at the club, and that there is a genuine pathway into the first-team, is through action, and Smith has the perfect chance to do just that against Everton on Thursday night.

The teenager has earned rave reviews for his performances at youth team level with Villa, and was even dubbed as a "scary talent" by The Birmingham Mail's Ashley Preece,

And, writing in his post-match player ratings after seeing him score a hat-trick against Newcastle in the FA Youth Cup, Preece showered him with more praise, saying: "This was a Carney Chukwuemeka masterclass. It was a clinic in how to play an advanced midfield role with the 17-year-old oozing confidence and swagger. The hype's real surrounding this kid who, as supporters know, has been around Dean Smith's first team for a long time now. Villa's No.10 started almost every attack and looked to hurt Newcastle at every opportunity.

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The 5 foot 9 starlet could bring the kind of fresh injection of energy and dynamism that could really end Villa's season on a high, and offer them a tantalising glimpse of the future.

After falling to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United last time, Chukwuemeka's introduction into the team against Everton could be a real game-changer.

Meanwhile, Villa must drop this shocking ace vs Everton; it's not Barkley...