Comment: Aston Villa's squad equipped for Championship grind

Last January was a hectic month for the club, with eight players arriving and the same number departing as Steve Bruce brought big change (too big, he later conceded) to his squad.

At the time, Bruce hoped the infusion of new faces would help spark Villa into a late charge toward the play-offs.

It never transpired, but – one year on – the benefits of the business done then are undoubtedly being felt.

Conor Hourihane, Scott Hogan, Birkir Bjarnason and Sam Johnstone, the latter of whom joined for the first time on loan last January before returning in the summer, have all played a part in recent weeks as Villa have climbed to within striking distance of the automatic promotion places.

The fact this window has been far quieter merely gives further weight to the theory Bruce now possesses a squad which requires little tinkering.

Financial Fair Play is a factor, of course. But Bruce faced the same scenario a year ago and generated funds by selling the likes of Rudy Gestede, Ashley Westwood and Jordan Ayew.

Now things are far more settled and Villa’s greatest strength over the final months of the season is likely to be the depth of their resources. Statistics are big business in football these days but should often be approached with caution. Many variables can be misleading.

Possession, for example, is rarely a definite indication of success. When Villa visited Nottingham Forest earlier this month, the hosts hogged the ball for 60 per cent of one of the most comfortable 1-0 away wins you are ever likely to see.

There are some numbers, however, which really do shine a light on how well Villa’s squad has responded to the challenges of a Championship campaign.

Most notably, their 42 league goals have been scored by 15 different players. Only Middlesbrough, another club with a sizeable squad, have had more players find the net.

A quick glance down Villa’s squad list and it is difficult, with a few exceptions, to find players who haven’t contributed at some point. Even Gabriel Agbonlahor, a peripheral figure for much of the campaign due to injury, netted Villa’s first goal of the campaign in a 1-1 opening day draw with Hull.

Henri Lansbury, another who has suffered rotten luck on the injury front, meanwhile came off the bench to earn a point against Leeds at Elland Road in one of his few appearances. One of the most encouraging trends for Villa has been the number of players who have responded to disappointment by battling their way back into the team.

Hourihane, Albert Adomah, Alan Hutton and Hogan to name just four have all had periods out of the starting XI.

At a club where it was not always the case, the shift in attitude is refreshing. In a division where the strongest legs in the closing months often win the day, it could prove decisive.