The Aston Villa defender could be about to get a lot of game time but is he up to it.
Following the news that Aston Villa skipper John Terry faces a spell on the side-lines with a broken metatarsal, their manager Steve Bruce has a big decision to make as to who will replace him.
At first glance, Chris Samba is the obvious if not universally approved choice, with the 33-year-old a regular on the substitutes’ bench this season and his 69-minute appearance after Terry’s exit against Sheffield Wednesday did culminate in a goal, albeit a consolation strike.
The problem is, at 33, and not exactly blessed with pace, Samba is unlikely to cope with the demands of festive football, with the matches coming thick and fast just when Villa needed their strongest XI out on the pitch.
The return of Tommy Elphick is another option, and do not be surprised to see the former Bournemouth man get some chances when fatigue inevitably catches up with Samba. However it is worrying at a time in the season when Villa were making a real statement of intent.
The prospect of a third straight campaign in the second tier is one that neither Bruce nor the club’s fans will want to fathom. Yet Samba needs to step into Terry’s shoes until at least January, when the prospect of dipping into the transfer market could see a short-term loan option that suits all parties.
For now Samba has his chance, but Villa may be left to rue the day Terry’s previously impressive season took a turn for the worse.
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