Dean Smith comments on Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia

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Jonathan Kodjia scored for Aston Villa against Stoke City at the weekend.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has suggested to the club’s official website that he wants Jonathan Kodjia to force him to include him in the starting lineup on a regular basis.

Smith made the comments about Kodjia following Villa’s 2-2 draw with Stoke City at Villa Park in the Championship at the weekend.

Important goal

The forward scored for the Villans in the 84th minute after coming on as a substitute midway through the second half.

The 29-year-old Ivory Coast international forward has made 15 starts and seven substitute appearances for Villa so far this season, scoring six goals and providing one assist in the process, according to WhoScored.

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Message from the manager

Villa manager Smith is pleased with Kodjia and the impact he made against Stoke, and wants the forward – who joined Villa from Bristol City in the summer of 2016 for an initial transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £11 million and when Roberto Di Matteo was in charge of the Villans – to force into his starting lineup.

Smith told Villa’s official website about Kodjia: “He made a difference because we weren’t creating that many great chances at that time. We had to change it a little bit – he came on and certainly changed it.”

The Villa boss added: “He’s done really well. I decided to rest him, as I said, and Anwar took his chance.

“But that’s what I want – the players pushing each other to try and get in the team and to play. Kodjia is pushing. I want them to give me food for thought for changes.”