Aston Villa: Tommy Elphick and Aaron Tshibola leave the club

Outcast pairing Tommy Elphick and Aaron Tshibola left Aston Villa on a temporary basis Monday, confirmed by manager Steve Bruce and Villa social accounts.

Axel Tuanzebe’s signature from Manchester United created a further logjam in the central defense totem pole. Tommy Elphick, now pushed far away from the first-team equation, leaves Villa on loan.

Elphick re-joins former Villan Leandro Bacuna at Reading, confirmed by Aston Villa social accounts. The Royals currently sit four points from the drop zone.

Geez, Tommy looks absolutely miserable.

Elphick was sitting 5th in the center back depth chart, possibly 6th depending on Bruce’s views of Mile Jedinak filling-in on the back line. Elphick’s Villa season ends on a high note, however, as he played the full 90 minutes in a crucial 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in December and the 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City on New Year’s Day.

The move allows Tommy to reestablish his value as a trusted second division defender – minutes he would not be receiving at Aston Villa.

In the same breath, Aaron Tshibola is also leaving the club on a temporary basis. The 22-year old central midfielder, whose loan at MK Dons was cancelled a few months back, is joining Kilmarnock F.C. of the Scottish Premiership. Tshibola links up with former Villa assistant Steve Clarke – Kilmarnock’s boss.

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Clarke was hired as an assistant under Robert Di Matteo. He was instrumental in getting Villa to fork over £5 million to Reading for Tshibola in the summer of 2016, a transfer that has yet to work out for club or player. Clarke’s services were not retained when Steve Bruce took over in October of that same year.

Tshibola showed promise in his small handful of Aston Villa appearances. But, he is so far down the midfield pecking order a move to Scotland ultimately makes sense. Best of luck to both!