Aston Villa will reportedly play a behind-closed-doors game tomorrow.
Aston Villa went into the international break with a superb victory, as they hammered Derby County 3-0 at Pride Park to continue their progression under Dean Smith.
Smith now has three wins and two defeats to his name as Villa boss, and will be looking to continue that run when they take on bitter rivals Birmingham City after the international break.
Some Villa players are heading off on international duty this week, but some fringe players left behind are set to be given a big chance to impress new manager Smith.
The Express and Star report that Villa will hold a behind-closed-doors friendly on Thursday, and Smith will be giving starts to defender James Bree, midfielder Henri Lansbury and winger Anwar El Ghazi – three players brought in and barely used by Steve Bruce.
Bree, 21, was brought in from Barnsley by Bruce in January 2017, but was given just 10 league starts by the former Villa boss, and with only five appearances this season, he needs to get his career back on track – and Thursday’s game gives him a chance to show Smith what he can do.
Experienced midfielder Lansbury was another January 2017 signing by Bruce, but he appeared only 10 times last season and one this term, falling well down the pecking order, with this surely a last chance to show that he can have a future at Villa Park.
Meanwhile, winger El Ghazi was brought in on loan from Lille in August, but Bruce found it difficult to jam him into the Villa side, and Smith has so far followed suit, giving him just 46 minutes of Championship action so far.
All three players – and possibly trialist James Collins – need to take every chance they get under Smith, and impressing on Thursday could go some way to forcing themselves back into the Villa side.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
