Aston Villa travel to Deepdale, battle Preston North End
By Josh Tonti
Championship midweek action sees Aston Villa travel to the northwest England. Steve Bruce and company will be without star striker Jonathan Kodjia following an ankle injury in the Second City Derby.
Thanks to the injury lords, Villa received a sliver of good news. Jonathan Kodjia’s ankle injury – the same right ankle he fractured in April – is more “encouraging” than first thought.
Despite this, the Ivory Coast international will take no part in the trip to Preston on Wednesday. Moreover, he’s a doubt for the weekend match and may not travel to Africa for the international break either.
In his stead, 19-year old Keinan Davis is likely to take his spot in the starting lineup. The bruising striker was unlucky to lose his place in the starting lineup to fellow youngster Josh Onomah. Scott Hogan is an option too for Bruce, but it’s still not quite the same with having Jonathan Kodjia in the lineup.
Next: Aston Villa can ill afford a serious injury to Kodjia
Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Birmingham saw the return of Mile Jedinak, too. The Socceroos captain is still fighting his way back to 100% fitness. Extended match play can aid in his efforts to be fit for November’s FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoffs. Australia face Honduras in a home-and-home set.
Jedinak vs. Glenn Whelan makes for an interesting battle from here on out in the number six role.
PROJECTED ASTON VILLA XI (4-3-3): Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry (c), Taylor; Jedinak, Hourihane, Onomah; Snodgrass, Davis, Adomah.
SUBSTITUTES: Steer, Samba, Hutton, Whelan, Bjarnason, Grealish, Hogan
There are several ways Steve Bruce can set-up the claret and blues away from home. Using Occam’s razor, one can deduce swapping Keinan Davis and Mile Jedinak for Jonathan Kodjia and Glenn Whelan makes sense. Scott Hogan is well-deserving of a start too, but the squad loses a bit of size and physicality with Hogan leading a single striker formation.
Left back Neil Taylor returns from three-match red card suspension. Out goes Alan Hutton (who played really well in his absence. Full credit to Alan, who proved many wrong, including myself). Ritchie De Laet drops out of the 18.
Preston captain Paul Huntington will miss the match through suspension.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 @ 3:45 p.m. EST
WHERE: Deepdale, Lancashire