Dean Smith provides fitness update on Aston Villa’s James Chester

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James Chester has not been able to play for Aston Villa since January.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has told the Birmingham Mail that that he thinks James Chester will be back in training soon.

Chester has not been seen in a Villa shirt since January, with injury catching up to the centre-back.

But the Welsh international is making progress as he looks to return to action.

And Smith thinks that the £8 million centre-back (BBC Sport) may be able to join in with Villa training over the coming days.

“It has been a frustrating one with his hamstring injury but I am hoping he will be back in training during the international break,” he said.

Whether Chester actually has any chance of forcing his way back into Villa’s team remains to be seen.

Prior to his injury problem Chester was a key player for the claret and blues, but he has so much competition for a place in Smith’s squad now.

Villa brought in Tyrone Mings, Bjorn Engels, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause over the summer, with competition for places at centre-back now fierce.

Mings and Engels have begun the campaign as Villa’s first choice pairing at centre-back, and the duo have caught the eye with their performances.

Villa return to action after the international break when they take on West Ham United.