Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard admits Jacob Ramsey has first-choice status.
Ramsey, 20, is enjoying a breakout season at Villa Park, building on last campaign when he mainly contributed from the bench by starting to make himself a fixture in the first team.
Ramsey has started 11 league games this season, including five of Gerrard's six matches in charge, compared to six last term.
"We've come in and seen Jacob Ramsey playing at a level where he can't be outside the eleven," Gerrard said.
"His training performances and what he is delivering on the pitch is basically saying to me 'I want a shirt in this team, I don't want to be moved and I'm going to show you I deserve that shirt'.
"He is doing that at the moment so he will play. It's pretty simple. It's not complicated.
"We're very much a staff and I'm very much a coach that wants to take all the excuses away from the players, academy players included, and say to them "go on. You go and show me you're good enough and I'll back it up and give you opportunities." I think we've done that so far."
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