Steven Gerrard has shared Aston Villa’s plans during the international break and the lead-up to their game against Leeds United on October 2nd.
Villa beat Southampton 1-0 on Friday night and Gerrard told Sky Sports that his players have been given some ‘family time’ for the next few days, before returning next week where they will play a behind-closed-doors game.
The one big worry for the Midlands side is the injury sustained to Boubacar Kamara – he went off in the first-half against the Saints.
Another summer signing in Diego Carlos is already going to spend a long period of time out on the sidelines, so it’s not going to be at all helpful if Kamara is out for a lengthy period as well.
Despite Villa’s struggles this season, the France international could argue that he has been his side’s best player during these opening stages.
Bearing all of that in mind, it’s a trip to Elland Road coming up for Gerrard and he said they will put all their effort into ‘worrying’ about that encounter next week because it will be a ‘tough’ game.
“A lot of our boys go away now,” said Gerrard. “We have just had another injury, which we are worried about with Boubacar Kamara, so that’s going to be a blow and we will analyse that in the short term.
“We haven’t got many about. But they have been under pressure, beside myself, so I want to let them breathe for a few days and give them some family time.
“We will come in and work hard in the middle of the international break and try to organise a game behind-closed-doors.
“Then, trying to put all we can in worrying about the next game, which is Leeds away, it will be tough. But we should go there with more confidence now.”
INDIFFERENT START FOR LEEDS AND VILLA
Only one point separates both Villa and Leeds after seven matches and their upcoming meeting could have a big bearing on how the season pans out.
Jesse Marsch’s side were last beaten 5-2 by Brentford at the start of September and to think they will play a month later isn’t helpful at all.
Yes, some players will be off on international duty, so they will get minutes in that regard, but after that Brentford defeat, the players haven’t been able to get back out their straightaway in order put the wrongs right.
Either way, they have blown hot and cold this term, as they try to find that much-needed consistency to push them up the Premier League table.
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