Tammy Abraham ‘enjoying’ Aston Villa loan and unlikely to leave, says Dean Smith

Dean Smith believes that Tammy Abraham will not leave Aston Villa to return to Chelsea and pursue another loan move to a Premier League club, with the manager insisting that his star striker is happy to remain at Villa Park until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old is on a season-long loan with Villa in order to play regular first-team football, with chances at Chelsea almost impossible to come by with Eden Hazard, Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata ahead of him in the pecking order.

But his impressive form this season, scoring 16 goals in just 21 appearances across all competitions for Villa, has seen him linked to a move back to the Premier League and another loan spell to a club who can offer him top flight football for the rest of the campaign.

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Yet Villa boss Smith believes that Abraham is happy with life in the Midlands and fully expects the forward to fulfil his contract commitments.

"Tammy has shown no inclination to go back to Chelsea," Smith said after the New Year’s Day 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers that leaves Villa 10th in the Championship, five points off the play-off places.

"In the conversations I've had with him he is enjoying himself at Villa and is developing as a player.

"He is very happy and you can see the connection he has with the supporters, the players and staff. We are very happy with the way Tammy is developing as a player and as a person.

"Chelsea seem very happy, as he is developing as a player and scoring goals in the Championship. For all three parties it is win-win. So I would be amazed if anything happened to prevent him playing for Villa.

"But it is not in my control. If Chelsea decide to recall him - it is up to them."