da esport bet： Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium last Saturday all but ended their faint hopes of snatching a Championship play-off spot, and they look set to spend another season at this level.
da pixbet： Poor runs of form at the start of the campaign under former manager Roberto Di Matteo, and at the start of 2017 under current boss Steve Bruce have ultimately cost them, and the plans will already be starting to ensure there isn’t a repeat next term.
While Bruce will already know that the regulars in the side since he came to the club haven proven that they can compete at this level the majority of the time, there are other players that will be hoping to be given a chance to impress in the remaining five fixtures – starting when they host Reading at Villa Park on Easter Saturday.
Here are four Villa fringe players that must get an opportunity during the run-in…
Micah Richards
Some neutrals may not have even realised that Richards is still at Villa, but with just over two years remaining on his contract at Villa Park, Steve Bruce may look to give him a final chance to impress over the course of the final five fixtures of the Championship season.
The 28-year-old has made just three appearances in all competitions this term – with the last of those coming against Wolves in October – but having played at the top level for Manchester City and England in the past, perhaps he still has something to offer.
Gabriel Agbonlahor
The 30-year-old striker had been given a second chance by manager Steve Bruce after getting himself back in shape last year, but after making three starts in a row in January he picked up a hamstring injury that has kept him on the sidelines since.
With Jonathan Kodjia picking up a knock in the draw against Burton at the weekend, he will hope that he is given another opportunity to impress in the remaining matches of the campaign.
Tommy Elphick
When the defender dropped down a division to join Villa from Bournemouth last summer, he probably would have expected that he would be a first team regular at this level.
Despite the fact that the 29-year-old was exactly that under Roberto Di Matteo at the beginning of the seasons, things have changed since Steve Bruce took the helm.
The former Hull City boss has often preferred a centre-back partnership of James Chester and Nathan Baker, which means that Elphick has largely been restricted to substitute appearances in recent months.
James Bree
The 19-year-old only moved to Villa Park from Barnsley during the January transfer window, but he missed a number of games after picking up a knee problem in training just after making his debut for the club.
Bree has made four appearances since – with the last of those coming against Wigan last month – and Bruce may be tempted to give him a run in the side at right-back in place of Alan Hutton in the closing stages of the season.
Do you agree, Villa fans? Let us know below.