James Chester will be looking to prove he can remain injury-free ahead of Aston Villa’s return to the Premier League.
James Chester has expressed his delight at getting back into action for Aston Villa after they opened their pre-season account by beating Minnesota United 3-0 in America on Thursday.
Centre-back Chester last played for Villa during their 2-1 home win against Ipswich Town in January, as he made his return in a Claret & Blue shirt by playing in the second half against Minnesota.
The popular Villa man partnered Tyrone Mings in defence, but it remains to be seen whether the duo will be starting the first Premier League game of the season.
Villa have landed back in England as they prepare for another game against Shrewsbury Town on Sunday, with Chester sending this message on his Instagram account.
It has to be remembered that Chester put his career on the line for Villa during the winter period of last season when Dean Smith was without another senior centre-back.
At the time, Axel Tuanzebe was injured, Tommy Elphick was still on-loan at Hull City and Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause were due to arrive in January.
But once Smith got legs through the door, it was only then when an already-injured and hardly-training Chester stepped aside.
It led to Mings taking the reigns at the back and playing a huge part in the Midlands outfit earning promotion to the Premier League – Elphick, Hause and Tuanzebe also played their part.
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