Former Crystal Palace and Birmingham City striker Clinton Morrison is certain Cameron Archer will have involvement with the Aston Villa first team next season.
The forward has 11 goals in 20 games during a loan spell at Middlesbrough over the second half of this season.
Archer hit seven goals in 17 matches for Preston North End last season.
Morrison said on Sky Sports: "He is a player, he will go back to Villa and he will be amongst their squad next season without a shadow of a doubt.
"He scores goals for fun. The combination between him and Akpom as a 10. He is just a really good footballer.
“The equaliser he scores, he comes alive in the box Archer, that's what he does. It's a poacher's finish into the roof of the net."