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Harvey Elliott, Anthony Gordon, Fabian Ruiz, Juan Mata and Thiago. What do they all have in common? They were all named the best player at an U21 Euros once upon a time. What Elliott doesn't have in common with the other four is being able to use that individual accolade as a springboard for greater things - so far anyway. The Aston Villa loan star was sensational as England's Young Lions reclaimed their European crown in the summer. The 22-year-old scored in the quarter-finals to down Spain, bagged a match-winning brace to see off Netherlands in the last four and then scored again in the final win over Germany. Some of his individual quality, especially his late winner over the Dutch in the semis, was that of a player brimming with confidence and destined to make the step up. It was always going to be a defining summer for Elliott, but the months that have followed have been anything but ideal. Unlike some young players who thrive at these tournaments it was not a case of a European powerhouse coming to prise a player away from a so-called lesser club. No, Elliott was already at Liverpool . So what did the Premier League champions do when they realised they had apparently the best young player in Europe on their books? They moved him on. Hardly a ringing endorsement of what the club thought of they young sensation. It wasn't the greatest surprise of all-time though. In the year leading up to Elliott's Euros exploits he started just two Premier League games. He was serially used as a substitute by Arne Slot . It was very apparent that doors at Anfield were not opening for the Fulham academy graduate, for whatever reason. He'd had several years, been patient, but the opportunities weren't coming. Questions of course need to be asked why Liverpool felt a player who produced in the summer was surplus to requirements. Normally such individuals are in demand. Mata moved from Valencia to Chelsea after his breakthrough tournament. Thiago went from Barcelona to Bayern Munich , where Pep Guardiola was waiting. Go back even in history and one Klaas-Jan Huntelaar moved to Ajax off the back of his U21 Euros performance. Royston Drenthe went from Feyenoord to Real Madrid . Elliott was on RB Leipzig's radar for several weeks but late in the window ultimately ended up at Aston Villa. Not quite the same calibre of name, but the Midlands outfit have been making the European spots their home in recent years. But if the England youngster thought a new environment would mean new opportunities, he was wrong. He wasn't even in the squad for the win over Manchester City meaning he has played just 167 minutes of a possible 810 since joining Unai Emery's side. He's only made five appearances - and more worryingly he's started just once. The Spanish boss explained the snub as he said: “He is training well, and he played some matches, but the performances weren't what we needed. Some players are playing as a number 10, and they are playing well, like Buendia and Rogers, also Ross Barkley after he was out." Elliott became the second Englishman in succession to be named the best player at an U21 Euros, following in the footsteps of Newcastle ace Gordon. The ex-Everton man went to a new level after his exploits with England, producing his best goalscoring season. Soon enough Gordon was linked with a move to Liverpool, only for Newcastle to warn off their interest with a price tag of £80million. He remains a key figure in what they hope to achieve having won the Carabao Cup last season with their winger playing a central role. Elliott has time on his side with Villa upwardly mobile after a slow start to the season, but it has been anything but an ideal beginning to what should've been a period of progress. Even more concerning is the purchase obligation included in his loan move meaning the Midlands outfit will have to take him on regardless of whether or not he becomes a starter. The frustration for Elliott will no doubt be magnified by the noise surrounding the likes of Elliot Anderson, who played alongside him in England's triumphant U21 side. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is now a mainstay under Thomas Tuchel, tipped to play at the World Cup next summer and has the likes of Newcastle and Manchester United eyeing him. Career moves and development are two tangibles players cannot guarantee when they plot their next steps. The likes of Mata, Ruiz and Thiago all won the Champions League at the clubs they joined following their exploits at the U21 Euros. In contrasting fashion, Fabio Vieira, the best player at the U21 Euros in 2021, soon opted to swap Porto for Arsenal but his move was hugely underwhelming. Despite costing £34m he was ultimately second fiddle to Martin Odegaard and hasn't pressed on. His compatriot William Carvalho won the same award in 2015 but chose to remain at Sporting Lisbon, which didn't serve him well. He's now playing in Mexico. European clubs love the next best thing - and few places serve as a better stage to show you're a star in the making than the U21 Euros. It has been the birthplace of Champions League winners and, in the 1990s, those who would claim the Ballon d'Or. Equally it has been a place for names long forgotten. In 2009 young Swede Marcus Berg stood out in a tournament which included Mesut Ozil , Mario Balotelli and Nemanja Matic. He's now back in his homeland with IFK Goteborg after stints in Germany, Greece and Russia . Elliott is only a few months into his first season post-Euros and claimed that he needed "to be selfish with myself and see what’s best for me". What's clear is that being left out of matchday squads is not what's best for Elliott. He has more than enough time to turn the tide, despite his worrying situation, and will hope to look back one day and be seen as more Thiago than Berg. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
