Dean Smith has revealed Aston Villa new-boy Kortney Hause is “available for selection” against Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The Midlands outfit travel to the DW Stadium to face the Latics in the Championship and could call upon their new loan signing to come in for the injured Axel Tuanzebe.
Smith has been impressed with what the Wolverhampton Wanderers defender has shown at Villa so far and revealed he could feature over the weekend, telling Club TV: “We have Kortney Hause, of course, who has integrated into the squad really well. He’ll be available for selection, that’s for sure. He’s enjoyed the training sessions and he’s looked the part as well.”
Villa desperately need a result, with Smith’s men having picked up just one win in their last six league games. The Claret and Blues have won only two matches in the Championship since late-November too. Hause’s arrival on loan and Tommy Elphick’s recall from Hull City has solved a potential defensive crisis, but Villa have to get a result against Wigan to boost their promotion hopes.
Smith’s men have conceded 40 goals 26 league games this season, keeping only two clean sheets since November 10, 2018. James Chester and Elphick partnered each other at centre-back against Queens Park Rangers on January 1, 2019, but Hause could be called upon as Villa can’t seem to stem the tide of goals.
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