Dean Smith backing Aston Villa squad to cope with workload

Saturday’s trip to Premier League champions Manchester City begins a busy week, which continues with next Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash with rivals Wolves and concludes with a visit from current leaders Liverpool.

Smith is relishing the challenge the next period of the season presents but will, as always, keep a keen eye on the fitness levels of his players.

“Starting with the Brighton game, we will have played four games in 15 days, so it becomes a squad game,” explained the boss. “There are some really tasty games coming up.”

Smith has named an unchanged starting XI for the last three Premier League fixtures, from which Villa have taken seven points.

But he has been impressed by the attitude of those players currently on the fringes of the team.

“The good thing is by having a really competitive squad is you can look over your shoulder and know you can change the game,” he said.

“Douglas came off the bench and scored against Norwich. Trezeguet I thought made an impact against Brighton, Keinan Davis too. We have a lot of good players in the squad and the hardest thing is leaving players out.

“Ahmed Elmohamady started the season in the team and has done really well in the Carabao Cup matches, in which he has captained the team.

“Unfortunately the past few games I have had to leave him off the bench because there are already two defenders on there.

“The numbers are there. What those players have to do is keep impressing in training, in under-23s games and the behind-closed-doors games we have at the training ground.”