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Aston Villa: Mile Jedinak, the club’s most important player

By Josh Tonti

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Aston Villa's Mile Jedinak with a challenge on Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Sissoko during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at White Hart Lane on January 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer - CameraSport via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Aston Villa's Mile Jedinak with a challenge on Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Sissoko during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at White Hart Lane on January 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer - CameraSport via Getty Images) /
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It has been over one month since Aston Villa relied on the resolute leadership of Mile Jedinak. The Australia international is sidelined with a groin injury; Monday he is slated to make his return.

Aston Villa remain on the precipice of utter collapse. The season, one that began so full of promise, is quickly unraveling after a winless streak of ten league matches. Next up? The league leaders Newcastle United away.

The only ounce of good news Villa received today is that of injury returnees. Mile Jedinak is set to return after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, as is fullback Neil Taylor. Jedinak, however, is our subject as he has not featured since January 14th in a 1-0 loss to Wolves.

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Villa have not won in that absence. Moreover, Villa have not won a single match when Jedinak is out of the lineup. The club hold all eight league wins in his twenty Championship appearances. After one accounts for the silly amount of draws, there remains a lot of accumulated points for the claret and blue in a short span.

Mile Jedinak, at the grizzled-veteran age of 32, keeps producing masterful appearances each and every time he sets foot on the pitch. This campaign, Jedinak owns a robust 7.13 WhoScored average.

Whereas Jonathan Kodjia produces on the offensive side, Jedinak produces on the defensive side – shielding the backline from danger. Jedinak excels in aerial duels and constantly intercepts the ball in the middle of the pitch.

Aston Villa do not possess the type of player capable of repeating Jedinak’s skill set. Ashley Westwood was the closest one, but Steve Bruce and company sold him to Burnley for a cool £5 million. Henri Lansbury lacks the calmness to operate solo in front of James Chester and Nathan Baker. Leandro Bacuna and Conor Hourihane have a more attacking mindset.

Next: Aston Villa Enter Another Crisis Situation

Will Mile Jedinak’s return spark Aston Villa forward? Probably not, but now the club has a fighting chance at picking-up some points on the road.

Surely when fully fit, Jedinak and Aston Villa are at the very worst a mid-table side.

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