Steve Bruce says Whelan injury only negative from Aston Villa win

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Aston Villa continued to push for a top two spot in the Championship as they ran out comfortable winners at the Stadium of Light.

In comments reported by the Birmingham Mail, Steve Bruce has suggested that the one downside to emerge from Aston Villa’s emphatic victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night was the injury sustained by Glenn Whelan in the win.

The Villans kept the pressure on Cardiff City in the race for the automatic-promotion spots in the Championship as they stormed to a 3-0 win over Chris Coleman’s side at the Stadium of Light which leaves them third, four points off the Bluebirds.

The pressure would have been on Villa given that the Black Cats are bottom of the league and appear to be in serious trouble of dropping into League One, so Bruce would have been pleased to get the job done – and improve their goal difference. But he explained that the feelings were mixed after the game as he hinted that they are fearful regarding the injury that forced Whelan off on the hour-mark.

“The disappointing thing of tonight is that Whelan, who I thought was our best player up until he got injured, has badly pulled a calf,” Bruce said, as reported by the Mail. “That’s the downside of tonight.

“For him to come off and limp like that, then it’s got to be something severe, so we’re not expecting good news.”

Losing the 34-year-old for any significant period of time would be a blow for the Villans as he has looked impressive lately, and in the process, responded to many of his critics from earlier in the campaign.

It will be especially difficult to take for Bruce as Villa’s next opponents are the current league leaders Wolves at Villa Park in a repeat of the 57-year-old’s first game in charge of the club last season.

Wolves’ form has dipped recently and they could go into the weekend just three points clear of Cardiff City if Leeds do the chasing pack a favour at Elland Road on Wednesday night. And if that happens, Villa could really set up a title race if they also win at the weekend – but their task will tougher if Whelan is not fit.