Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith continues to prepare for Saturday’s trip to Pride Park to face Derby County.
We go into the match in better spirits as our performance improvements against Queen Park Rangers carried through to Bolton Wanderers and we took victory, but Derby come into the tie in good spirits themselves as they sit in fifth place in the Championship table.
Injury update: Birkir Bjarnason is fit to face @DCFCOfficial. @KeinanDavis_ has started his rehab and should be back training in the next fortnight.
WATCH LIVE 👉 https://t.co/A5jtLTaTLA #PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/L65V762QoH
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 8, 2018
With Smith holding his pre-game press conference earlier this afternoon, there was a positive injury update from him.
Midfielder Birkir Bjarnason comes back into his thoughts for the game as he’s been passed fit, but also Keinan Davis has now begun full rehabilitation work following his lay off and Smith believes that he’ll be back in group training within the next fortnight.
Going to be a little bit longer than that I imagine before fans of his can expect him to seriously come into contention again, but at least that day – and the option he brings – gets closer.
Smith also had positive words about Lampard’s start to life as a manager, but the best comment is undoubtedly his final sentence.
🎥💬 Press Conference: Dean Smith on Frank Lampard – “He's started his managerial career very well. He has brought in good young loan players. They play with a lot of energy. I respect them but we are no way fearful of them”
WATCH LIVE 👉 https://t.co/A5jtLTaTLA #AVFC pic.twitter.com/WEtgET6ilH
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 8, 2018
