Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway has praised on-loan Aston Villa youngster Finley Munroe after the 20-year-old scored a stunning right-footed winner in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers.
The goal, Munroe’s first for the club, capped an impressive run of form in which the Villa loanee has started all 15 of Swindon’s League Two fixtures so far this season.
Holloway Left in Awe by Villa Loanee
Munroe, who joined Swindon in the summer on a season-long loan from Villa Park, struck in injury time to seal all three points at the County Ground. The goal came as a surprise to his manager, who admitted he didn’t expect such a strike from the player’s weaker foot.
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“He can open a tin of salmon with his left foot,” Holloway told Swindon’s in-house media. “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen him use his right. Maybe once, when he clipped it into the goal and everyone went ‘oh’. That was wonderful. He’s a wonderful kid.”
The experienced manager also revealed that Munroe had been carrying a sore ankle in the build-up to the match but insisted the youngster’s determination and quality made the difference late on.
Holloway, in typically colourful fashion, joked that members of his coaching team were now claiming credit for Munroe’s right-foot shooting practice.
“Every one of my staff is trying to claim they worked on it with him,” he laughed. “But it was none of them, it was me.”
Villa’s Rising Star Making an Impression
Munroe began his youth career at Chelsea’s Cobham academy, where he was highly rated by former England left-back Ashley Cole. Despite that recommendation, it was Aston Villa who secured his signature 4 years ago, with the youngster now seen as one of the club’s most technically gifted wide defenders.
The Kingston-born full-back has already made 2 senior appearances for Villa and is spending his second loan spell away from the Midlands side after a previous stint elsewhere. His time at Swindon has seen him deployed at left-back, left midfield, and even centre-back, underlining his tactical versatility.
Last minute winner and 3 points ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VHvstupNZm
— Finley Munroe (@FinMunroe) November 9, 2025
This latest display only enhances his reputation as 1 of the most exciting defensive prospects currently out on loan from a Premier League club. With Unai Emery known to monitor Villa’s young loanees closely, Munroe’s performances will not have gone unnoticed.
Swindon’s win over Tranmere lifted them into mid-table, with Holloway’s side now targeting consistency after a mixed start to the campaign. The Robins face MK Dons in the EFL Trophy before returning to League Two action against Fleetwood Town and Grimsby Town later this month.
For Munroe, the challenge is to maintain his level and prove he can handle both the physical and technical demands of senior football. His left foot may already be renowned at Villa Park, but after this weekend’s strike, it’s safe to say his right is making headlines of its own.
