Aston Villa endured another disappointing performance on Sunday against a Leeds United side who battled most of the second half with just ten men as they ultimately drew 0-0.

Steven Gerrard’s men couldn’t find a way through the Leeds backline and their quest to score more than two goals in a Premier League match this season continues.

Strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings haven’t exactly set the world alight this term with regards to goals scored, with the duo contributing just three between them all season.

Surely Gerrard must now unleash a youngster who is ready for Premier League football and he might just provide the spark that Villa needs.

On the chalkboard

20-year-old Cameron Archer has played just nine minutes of league football so far this season. He suitably impressed on loan at Preston North End during the second half of last term, scoring seven goals in 20 matches and it proves he is more than ready for the step up.

Indeed, Archer scored four goals for the senior Villa side in the EFL Cup last term and with Gerrard struggling to get goals out of his team, a change may need to be made sooner rather than later.

The 42-year-old was asked about Archer after the game yesterday by journalist Ashley Preece, but he was met with a rather perplexing response, responding by saying:

“He's only done one full session. Is he chomping at the bit? 100 per cent. You're a fan of Cameron, you, aren't ya? Or are you a mate of the family? Something's going on because you've asked me 25 questions this year and I reckon 19 have been on Cam Archer. You're a fan aren't ya?"

The reporter clearly wants the youngster to break through and take his chance and he has all the right attributes to stake his claim ahead of Ings or Watkins.

Villa have scored just six goals in eight league matches this season, the joint third lowest in the table and something needs to change, especially with fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Fulham, and Brentford all coming up over the next few weeks.

Watkins received a SofaScore rating of just 6.3 against Leeds, completing just nine passes, missing three big chances, and losing possession 11 times during the match during a torrid afternoon.

Speaking of his display, the aforementioned Preece claimed that he was "hesitant in front of goal," but that has far from been the case with Archer in recent campaigns.

By unleashing him instead, Gerrard will have a striker who is young and ready to claim a place in the starting XI on a regular basis. The pressure is currently building on the manager, but he is paid well to make big decisions, and playing Archer against Forest could give Villa a fresh attacking output.