Declan Rice's cousin made a shock call to the Villa bench in the FA Cup against Chelsea

ASTON VILLA have handed a shock FA Cup call-up against Chelsea to an ex-Blues boy best known as Declan Rice's cousin.

And Finley Munroe would still be at Stamford Bridge – if club chiefs had followed the advice of club legend Ashley Cole.

Finley Munroe was named as Villa substitute at Chelsea in the fourth roundCredit: Rex

Villa named the 18-year-old left-back as one of their nine substitutes for Friday night's fourth round clash against Chelsea.

The Birmingham Mail say the elegant defender is a cousin of Arsenal's £105million England midfielder Rice.

Munroe was at Chelsea as a child but was shown the exit at the age of 16.

But it is thought former Blues and Arsenal left-back Cole urged the club to KEEP the youngster.

Munroe has made five appearances for Villa's under-23s this season.

The Birmingham Mail reports that he was a popular prospect after Chelsea refused to keep him.

Leicester City and Nottingham Forest are said to have offered Munroe professional terms while other clubs floated.

But it is claimed Villa Academy chief Mark Harrison has persuaded the starlet to join the Midlanders in 2021.

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Munroe looked on as Douglas Luiz ruled out an early opener for Villa.