Wesley Moraes could be included in the Aston Villa squad for the first time in 15 months for this weekend’s Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion, manager Dean Smith has told the club’s official website.
And if the £22 million striker does manage to get on to the pitch during Sunday night’s Midlands derby, Wesley might fancy his chances of marking his return to action with a goal.
After all, Sam Allardyce’s seemingly doomed West Brom side showed about as much resistance as an underdone blancmange during their 3-0 thumping at the hands of Leicester City last night.
The Baggies are now nine points adrift of safety with only six games to go.
Aston Villa, then, can hammer a nail into West Brom’s coffin with a win against their local rivals.
Morgan Sanson, Trezeguet and captain fantastic Jack Grealish will all be unavailable when the Baggies come to town – but Smith might just find a place in his roster for Aston Villa’s seldom-seen striker.
“Wesley is coming back and may be available for the squad,” the former Walsall boss admits.
Aston Villa have won just two of their past ten league games – an underwhelming run of performances that has coincided with Grealish’s injury-enforced absence.
And Smith won’t be taking struggling West Brom lightly, pointing out they more than held their own against Leicester last night before Jamie Vardy’s opener sparked a first-half flurry.
“I thought (West Brom) started the game quite well,” Smith adds. “But once the first goal went in, Leicester were very good and scored some good goals.
“They’re fighting for every point they can get – but so are we. We know it’s a derby. We’re looking forward to the game and want to get back to winning ways ourselves.”
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