Explained: Where Aston Villa stand with Brian Madjo after teenager's Walsall brace | OneFootball

Aston Villa remain in limbo over registering Brian Madjo for the new season, despite the 17-year-old scoring twice in a 5-0 friendly win at Walsall on his first public outing for the club.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, Fifa blocked his registration under rules on international transfers of under-18s. Villa appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland earlier this month and are awaiting the ruling, so he can only play friendlies.

Fifa rejected the move because he was joining from an overseas club. Villa argue he should be exempt as he was born in London and has represented England at youth level. He also has three senior caps for Luxembourg.

Signed from Metz in January for £10million, the striker outmuscled Declan Skura to turn in Kosta Nedeljkovic’s 24th-minute cross past Jed Ward. He then reacted quickest when Emi Buendia’s effort deflected into his path on the stroke of half-time.

Madjo made five first-team appearances for Metz in the French First Division last season and trained regularly with Villa during the spring, but he remains barred from competitive action.

He was one of four teenagers on the scoresheet as Villa cruised at Bescot in their opening pre-season fixture, his brace either side of a George Hemmings strike. Luka Lynch and Aidan Borland scored after the break, and all three are candidates for loan moves later in the window.

A large portion of the first team are yet to return. Those who played at the World Cup have at least three weeks off, with John McGinn, Victor Lindelof and Evann Guessand not expected back until before the Far East tour. Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez are unlikely to return until the week of the European Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on August 12.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com