Aston Villa will see Kaine Kesler-Hayden return from his loan spell with Preston North End this summer
10:03, 05 May 2025Updated 10:11, 05 May 2025
Level best… Villa loan man Kaine Kesler-Hayden(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden will return to the club this summer having taken his game onto ‘another level’, according to Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom.
Right-back Kesler-Hayden spent the season on loan at Deepdale, playing 51 times, including 41 starts in the Championship.
The 22-year-old, who has previously had loan spells with Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town and MK Dons, scored in a draw with Stoke City and in a narrow loss to champions Leeds United, and completed a clean sweep of awards at North End’s end of season ceremony.
In what was an otherwise disappointing campaign for the Lilywhites, who needed a result on the final day of the season to ensure they remain in the division having been dragged into a relegation battle, Kesler-Hayden was a bright spot.
Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post : “Kaine’s played the majority of games and, as I said, might have been critical of him [against Bristol City on the final day], but he’s had a fantastic loan, won our Player of the Season, the Player’s Player and his game’s gone on another level.”
Villa tied Kesler-Hayden down to a contract extension before loaning him out to North End last summer, but they’ll have a decision to make on his long-term future with clubs elsewhere expected to have an interest in him.
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