This article is part of Football FanCast's Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Aston Villa’s most recent transfer business saw the club shell out over £130m on 12 new arrivals, but one particular outgoing in Dean Smith’s summer overhaul is continuing to steadily impress in his spell away from the newly-promoted side.

With Villa opting to sign Wesley Moraes in a club-record £22m deal from Club Brugges, Scott Hogan was deemed surplus to requirements and was consequently sent out on loan to Stoke City.

The 27-year-old, who arrived at Villa from Brentford in 2017, has scored three goals in ten Championship appearances for the Potters in the current campaign, despite his side sitting 23rd in the second tier's table and having recently lost manager Nathan Jones following a poor run of domestic results.

Especially given the period of adaptation that Wesley is currently undergoing at Villa Park alongside ongoing concern regarding the long-term fitness of Jonathan Kodjia, it would appear that the club could end up regretting loaning out the forward if these issues in the striking department regarding fitness and form persist. 

Wesley only has four goals so far this term, a lack of nouse in front of goal that could well come back to bite them.

On the other hand, the Villa loanee has displayed his ability to deliver when afforded the opportunity to start against Derby County, netting a crucial brace in just one of his four starts so far this season. The £2.7m-rated man clearly knows where the back of the net is.

Hogan’s ability to perform consistently is likely to have been hindered by Stoke’s exceptionally poor start to the 2019/20 campaign, but Smith should be keeping tabs on the striker’s performances at The Britannia given Villa’s lack of depth among their forward ranks.