The Aston Villa midfielder could be back in favour under Steve Bruce after his FA Cup performance.
It’s taken almost three months for Steve Bruce to give Aaron Tshibola a chance from the start in Aston Villa colours.
And, after weeks watching Ashley Westwood evaporate into thin air and Gary Gardner struggle against the opposition, Villa fans will be hoping that they won’t have to wait the same length of time to see the 21-year-old in action again.
A combative, energetic midfielder, it’s a little hyperbolic to suggest that Tshibola is the answer to Villa’s prayers but his presence would certainly go a long way to finding an acceptable answer to Bruce’s midfield conundrum.
The former Reading youngster added a sheet of steel to an otherwise soft centre when coming off the bench in last week’s loss at Cardiff and although Villa found themselves on the losing side once more against Tottenham in the FA Cup, Tshibola’s performance offered at least a glimmer of optimism.
Completing three tackles and posting a pass success rate of 91 per cent, per WhoScored, Tshibola combined impressive technical ability with his valuable destructive tendencies, all the while allowing the veteran Mile Jedinak to conserve his energy.
If he can keep Spurs’ albeit youthful midfield relatively quiet at White Hart Lane, surely he can push Wolves’ key men to the periphery at Molineux next weekend. If Bruce gives him the chance, that is.
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