Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is hopeful that Ross Barkley will be available for this weekend’s clash with West Bromwich Albion.

The two Midlands clubs go head-to-head with Sam Allardyce taking to the dugout for the first time as Albion boss since replacing Slaven Bilic.

Dean Smith and Villa will want to make it a first match to forget, however, as they aim to get back to winning ways after a draw with Burnley.

Indeed, he’s hopeful that Barkley will be among those available to him, after opting against risking the on-loan Chelsea man against the men from Turf Moor on Thursday night.

He said, via the Birmingham Mail, who reported that a potential return date is now this weekend:

“He was close, but his injury was in a place where there is risk, and the risk was too high for this game [vs Burnley]. We don’t want a re-injury, and he could be prone to that. We just didn’t feel that he was 100% for this, and kept him out of it.”

Rush Football’s take

Barkley is a fine footballer and has enjoyed a resurgence in the Villa side with him linking up nicely with the likes of Jack Grealish and John McGinn in their midfield.

Injury has kept him out since the Brighton game nearly a month ago but he is on the verge of a return and, after being cautious for the Burnley clash, it would seem Smith is now hopeful he will be able to call upon him against West Brom.

 

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