Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has challenged Enda Stevens to prove that he is up to Premier League standard.
The 21-year-old left-back is expected to finalise his move from Shamrock Rovers to Villa on Monday.
McLeish admitted that Stevens, who has been training with Villa, may have to wait for his chance to feature in the starting lineup.
"I don't know, I don't really know [when Stevens will play]," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail. "If you look at the squad, who do you leave out? I've got Ciaran Clark who can play there and he is challenging at the moment as well.
"If someone is out for whatever reason then there might be some opportunities, but it is up to Enda to hit the ground running in training and do well so I think 'Let's get this guy involved'.
"It is down to the quality in the personnel available and always will be. Enda will have quite a way to go to break in because Stephen Warnock has been in great form."
Stevens joined Shamrock in 2010 from St Patrick's Athletics.
Liam Apicella
