Injury hit sides Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday meet at Hillsborough on Saturday.
If Aston Villa are not promoted this season, their ongoing injury crisis will likely shoulder most of the blame.
Axel Tuanzebe is Villa’s latest victim, joining Jonathan Kodjia and Andre Green – as well as, in all likelihood, Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah – as confirmed absentees ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, manager Steve Bruce conceded: “That’s part and parcel of the Championship.”
And lucky for the Villans, their opponents know all too well about that, with at least 12 Owls players set to miss out – many of whom have yet to feature at all since the January appointment of Jos Luhukay as manager.
Bruce’s team have failed to score from open play since losing both Grealish and Adomah, with their only goal in that time coming courtesy of Lewis Grabban from the penalty spot.
And worryingly, the Villa boss could have even fewer attacking options at Hillsborough, with Grabban and Keinan Davis also doubts.
That said, Aston Villa should – on paper at least – still have enough to overcome Luhukay’s team, although Bruce will be well aware of the threat they pose after last week’s win against the Villans’ promotion rivals Derby County.
Here’s how they could look against Sheffield Wednesday…
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