STEVEN GERRARD is keen to keep Sunderland attacking target Cameron Archer at Villa Park next season, with the youngster continuing to impress during Aston Villa’s pre-season matches.

Archer is one of a number of Premier League youngsters currently interesting Black Cats boss Alex Neil, who has conceded the urgent need to recruit new forwards with Ross Stewart the only senior striker on Sunderland’s books.

Neil confirmed the Black Cats’ recruitment team are in discussions with top-flight clubs in the wake of Tuesday’s friendly defeat at Bradford City and expressed a hope that progress might be imminent with a number of sides beginning to return from overseas tours.

Villa are currently in Australia, but while Gerrard is expected to release a number of his promising youngsters when his squad return to England, he is currently minded to keep Archer as part of his plans for the new campaign.

Archer, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Preston, scored the only goal of the game as Villa beat Brisbane Roar 1-0 earlier this week.

Having come onto the field as a half-time substitute, the England Under-21 international controlled a low cross from full-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden before firing home.

Gerrard was impressed with the 20-year-old’s contribution, and while he is aware of interest from a number of clubs, including Sunderland, he is considering retaining Archer for at least the first half of the season.

“Cam showed everything that’s Cam’s about, movement, quality – he could have had a hat-trick,” said the Villa boss. “With Cam, if you don’t let me leave the room and I’d have to make a decision now, he’d be staying in the door.

“At the moment, (Archer would be staying) because (he’s) really stepped forward. What he’s doing is he’s sending messages to more experienced people that there’s a fight on from now until the game against Bournemouth – and beyond because the window is still open. (He’s) given me serious things to think about.”

Archer’s preference would be to remain as part of Villa’s first-team squad next season, but if the youngster is told to make another loan move into the Championship, he is prepared to do so if it benefits his career.

The Northern Echo: Aston Villa’s Cameron Archer celebrates completing his hat-trick

“He (Gerrard) said at the start that he’ll let me know whether I’ll go out on loan or not at the end of the Australia tour,” said Archer, in an interview with Villa’s official website. “So, I’m going to try my best to impress him.

“Obviously, I would prefer to play here, but if I need to go out on loan to play games because that’s what young players need, we’ll see.”

Whereas Archer appears to have a chance of remaining with his current employers next season, Nathan Broadhead’s future now looks all-but-certain to lie away from Everton.

Having been overlooked for the opening game of Everton’s Australian tour against Arsenal, Broadhead was not involved again overnight as Frank Lampard’s side were thrashed 4-0 by MLS team Minnesota United.

While 23 members of Lampard’s first-team group were given game time, Broadhead did not feature, suggesting he will be leaving Merseyside imminently.

The striker, who has entered the final year of his current deal at Everton, impressed during last season’s loan spell at the Stadium of Light, and Sunderland are willing to consider either a permanent transfer or another loan move as they look to re-sign him for their return to the Championship.

The Black Cats are back in pre-season action themselves this weekend as they head to Accrington Stanley on Saturday for their penultimate friendly before their opening game of the season against Coventry City on July 31.