Mile Jedinak has not made a single Championship appearance since Dean Smith replaced Steve Bruce at Aston Villa.
Mile Jedinak became something of a scapegoat in the final few months of Steve Bruce’s reign at Villa Park, although the criticism was not all his own fault.
The Australian battler is a central midfielder by trade who has spent years patrolling the engine rooms in English football. So Bruce was asking a lot when forcing the 34-year-old into an unfamiliar centre-half position.
No wonder Jedinak struggled, especially when asked to fill the void left by the departure of influential captain, and top class centre-back, John Terry.
It seemed telling that, as soon as Bruce was sacked and replaced by Dean Smith, Jedinak found himself out of the starting XI. All nine of his Championship appearances this season came before the former Brentford boss’s arrival in mid-October.
But, speaking to the Birmingham Mail, has Smith suggested that the former Crystal Palace captain still has a role to play at Villa?
“The likes of Mile Jedinak helped us up the tempo in the game. He’s a very good professional,” Smith said after watching the veteran in action for Villa’s U23s this week alongside the likes of Henri Lansbury and James Bree.
Jedinak might have developed a reputation as an on-pitch gladiator but his technical ability should not be underestimated. He is an intelligent user of the ball and could help Smith stamp his possession-based philosophy on his new side.
So do not write off Jedinak just yet.
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