Aston Villa boss Dean Smith names the players pushing for starting places in his side

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Aston Villa managed to make it through to the quarter finals of the League Cup last night.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has told the club’s official website that Henri Lansbury, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause are all pushing for first-team places now.

Villa won 2-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers last night in the League Cup, despite Smith naming a much changed line-up.

A number of Villa’s fringe players impressed during the contest, despite their lack of minutes this season.

And Smith was particularly pleased with Lansbury’s, Konsa’s and Hause’s displays.

Smith said: “The big thing since I’ve been here was keeping him [Lansbury] fit, we have manage to do that since the start of pre-season. He looks like he wants to push.

“I’m pleased the likes of him, Ezri and Kortney have all got minutes today and are pushing for places now.”

Competition for places in Villa’s starting line-up is fierce right now, so Lansbury, Konsa and Hause could well be substitutes again at the weekend.

Lansbury needs to get into Villa’s team ahead of the likes of Douglas Luiz, Conor Hourihane, Marvelous Nakamba and John McGinn to earn a spot in Smith’s side.

Hause and Konsa, meanwhile, are highly unlikely to break up the partnership which Tyrone Mings and Bjorn Engels have formed at the heart of Villa’s defence.

The trio could all be picked again in the quarter-final of the League Cup though, if Smith does rotate his side in the competition again.