Taylor Harwood-Bellis was omitted from Aston Villa's squad for the Champions League, two days after arriving at the club and explaining his ambition to play in the tournament.
Harwood-Bellis signed for Villa on Tuesday, the Premier League's transfer deadline day, from Championship side Southampton.
He said upon arrival: "The club, in general, being such a prestigious Premier League club. And then you have the added bonus of the Champions League -- it doesn't fill me with anything but excitement.
"I can't get wait to get out there and show that I can hopefully do it on the biggest stage.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis isn't in Aston Villa's Champions League squad. Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images "We've seen the success that the club has had in Europe, winning the Europa League and going so far in the Champions League. I know that the club can relish in Europe as well."
However, that dream will be postponed until at least later this season because Villa's squad for the league phase of Europe's top competition did not include the defender.
If Unai Emery's side qualify from the league phase into the knockout stages they will submit a fresh squad which Harwood-Bellis could be added to.
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Fellow newcomer Modou Keba Cisse and striker Brian Madjo, who scored against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, were also left out of Villa's initial Champions League squad.
Zion Suzuki, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Matteo Ruggeri, João Gomes, Johan Manzambi, Leon Goretzka, Alejandro Garnacho, Ibrahim Mbaye and Nicolas Jackson have all been picked by Villa.
Their European campaign begins away at Club Brugge next Tuesday.