In rather surprising news, Ross McCormack was left at home during Aston Villa’s pre-season trip to Germany. The Scotsman was thought to be re-integrated into the first team following a public dispute between he and manager Steve Bruce.
Ross McCormack is one of several players omitted from the trip to Germany.
In all, Aaron Tshibola, Tommy Elphick, Jordan Veretout, Gary Gardner, and Aly Cissokho failed to make the journey. However, Ross McCormack not making the squad is the most surprising piece of news.
Yes, Ross failed miserably last term and really let the club down. His £12 million move from Fulham turned into just three Championship goals and a January loan move to Nottingham Forest. However, in the face of such a light attack last season, the inclusion of a re-energized McCormack could have amounted to something new.
We’re not talking about a starting striker spot – that’s filled through Jonathan Kodjia. Moreover, Scott Hogan is comfortably the deputy; whether or not Steve Bruce plays two at the top remains to be seen.
More from Claret Villans
- Aston Villa dismiss Everton for first win of Premier League season
- Tyrone Mings injured in Aston Villa’s season-opening 5-1 defeat
- Aston Villa draw Hibernian or FC Luzern for Europa Conference League play-off
- Aston Villa sign winger Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen
- Aston Villa close in on deal to sign Pau Torres from Villareal
McCormack offered depth and versatility into the front line. Very few players aside from Jack Grealish and Conor Hourihane are capable of playing underneath as number tens. His horrific season and awful conditioning means no club is coming to Aston Villa for an offer that recoups the £12 million dished out.
The best thing for Aston Villa both on the field and financially is a fit Ross McCormack contributing from the bench.
Jonathan Kodjia is coming off a fairly severe ankle break. Scott Hogan is a perennial injury worry. After them? Keinan Davis and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy offer a world of promise, but neither have reached the age of 20.
Should Villa ever get in a situation where one of Hogan or Kodjia become re-injured, supporters could be seeing Gabby Agbonlahor for a full ninety minutes.
None of that seems promotion worthy.
One thing we and SB made the agreement is to trim the squad to 19-20 and pick 5-6 youngsters to train with the 1st squad this season. https://t.co/D41oy9ywjH
— Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) July 21, 2017
The clear candidates for an axing include: Richards, Elphick, Tshibola (loan), Gardner, Cissokho, Steer/Sarkic (loan), Veretout,
I’m not ready to discard an attacker with 69 league goals in the last four seasons. At least not without a second chance, and not for nothing.