It’s often said that the key to promotion from the Championship is a team’s strikers firing on all cylinders, but when it comes to Aston Villa’s strikers this season, they seem to be chalking up more injuries than goals.
Jonathan Kodjia’s injury/injuries has been the most documented and he currently faces a long stretch on the sidelines, Gabby Agbonlahor has been seemingly AWOL most of the time, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy has only just returned to fitness and Scott Hogan has been a bit of a sick note during his time at Villa. Even Keinan Davis picked up an illness over the Christmas period.
It’s been the kind of luck that could do with a casino bonus online since Villa haven’t this season had the luxury of having a full line-up of strikers being fit and available.
Things had got so bad that in Villa’s recent trip to Derby, Villa boss Steve Bruce actually elected to start the game without a recognised striker, preferring to go with Josh Onomah instead of using either Agbonlahor or Hogan, who had both just returned to fitness.
In Villa’s recent 5-0 win against Bristol City, Scott Hogan finally delivered on the goal front and there was a lot of hope and good will the Villa striker would finally would crack on and start knocking in the goals to justify his price tag.
The upcoming FA Cup game against the Peterborough was a further chance to improve his sharpness, but as Steve Bruce disclosed in the Posh pre-match press conference, Hogan had picked up an injury against the Robins.
“Even after scoring the other night he’s still twisted his ankle and ruled himself out for tomorrow,” said Bruce.
After the initial disappointment of such news comes the hope that it is nothing serious and he’ll be back in contention for the next League game against Nottingham Forest. Watch this space.
A fully fit Scott Hogan contributing goals during the rest of the season, will certainly be a big plus for Villa’s promotion ambitions.
UTV
At least Davis got one today, as Villa’s 2nd string cruised an FA Cup triumph over….oh, hang on, just hang on, ohhhhhhhh f………
Even more proof that we need a replacement striker and preferably one that isn’t accident prone. Let’s hope that he is fit for our next game because Bruce is saying it will probably be the end of the month before a loan signing is possible.