Steve Bruce explains decision regarding Aston Villa’s Birkir Bjarnason

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Birkir Bjarnason scored for Aston Villa against Bristol City in the Championship on Friday.

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has suggested to the club’s official website why he has not used Birkir Bjarnason too frequently so far this season.

Bruce has suggested that he wanted to give the 30-year-old central midfielder a rest after the Villa star’s involvement at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia in the summer with Iceland.

The Villa boss made the comments following his side’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City away from home in the Championship last Friday evening.

Bjarnason, who joined the Villans from FC Basel in January 2017, scored the equaliser for the visiting team.

Villa manager Bruce has admitted that Bjarnason will feel harshly treated and has explained his decision regarding the Iceland international.

Bruce told Villa’s official website: “He can feel harshly treated. But he’s had a long summer and I’ve tried to give him the rest he needs while I can.

“I need him ready for this long marathon that we’re about to embark on. When we get to the middle of winter he’ll be good for us.”

Good decision?

Bjarnason is a very good midfielder who will be an important player for Villa as the season progresses.

The central midfielder has scored two goals in 341 minutes of Championship football for Villa so far this season, according to WhoScored.

During the 2017-18 campaign, the 30-year-old scored three goals and provided two assists in 1100 minutes of the Championship football for the Villans, according to WhoScored.