Aston Villa are still assessing injuries to several key players ahead of the team’s clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Steve Bruce’s side currently sit fifth in the Championship following two league wins. The team’s most recent league victory saw them run out 5-0 winners over Bristol City on New Year’s Day. Despite the Aston Villa’s current form, Bruce and his technical staff are still assessing injuries that could limit his player selection on Saturday.
Aston Villa are monitoring striker Scott Hogan who sprained his ankle in the team’s win over Bristol City. The 25-year-old hasn’t been declared fully fit as yet. However, Bruce hopes to have him at least on the bench against Forest.
John Terry is fully recovered from the broken foot that kept him out of action for two months. The former Chelsea defender played the full 90 minutes in Villa’s 3-1 loss to Peterborough in the FA Cup third round. He could receive a place in the team’s starting XI. However, Aston Villa have kept two consecutive clean sheets in the Championship, which could see Terry only make the bench.
The medical team is also assessing injuries to Andre Green and Henri Lansbury. Both are not fully fit, but did play 45 minutes each in the loss to Peterborough at the weekend.
Bruce made wholesale changes to his team in the FA Cup third round loss, but the manager’s decisions were down to player fitness and the chase for Premier League promotion.
“If I had asked players who had just played four games in eight days to go and perform again, and lost two or three of them through injury, then I would be kicking myself,” Bruce said.
The last time Villa met Forest in the Championship, the Bruce’s men won the fixture 2-1. He will be hoping for a repeat performance. However, Nottingham Forest appointed former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka as manager on Monday. The Reds should be up for Villa’s arrival, especially coming off of a shock FA Cup win over Arsenal, 4-2.
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