Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia set to return behind closed doors
Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia is poised to step up his recovery from long-term injury by appearing in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
The 28-year-old has recently returned to training after more than four months out with his second serious ankle injury in the space of a year.
And Villa were attempting to organise a game this week in which Kodjia could make an appearance.
The Ivory Coast international will not be rushed back and his chances of appearing for the first-team again this season remain slim.
Kodjia, who netted 19 goals for Villa last season, missed the start of the current campaign after breaking his ankle last April.
After scoring once in nine appearances this term, he suffered another fracture to the same ankle while away on international duty in early November.
Kodjia returned to training earlier this month. Asked about his progress, Villa boss Steve Bruce said: “He has done OK. We are looking for a game in midweek to see if he can take part in it. We will see where he is.”
Injuries have been a constant concern for Villa this season. Full-backs Alan Hutton and Axel Tuanzebe have been absent for the past few weeks with hamstring injuries, while Glenn Whelan has been missing with a calf injury.
Neil Taylor, the only recognised left-back on Villa’s books, has, meanwhile, withdrawn from the Wales squad with a groin problem.
Villa still have more than a dozen players going away on international duty and Bruce said: “We just have to hope they all come back OK. When they come back we have to regroup them all and get ready for the next challenge.
“The lads will have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. We will train normally in the week, give them the long weekend and hopefully freshen them up a bit.”
