Jonathan Kodjia returns to boost Aston Villa’s promotion hopes

Jonathan Kodjia playing first-team football for Aston Villa in March 2018 is not something I’d have expected when the gangly Ivorian hitman was pretty much wrote off for the season after a second devastating ankle injury within 12 months.

However, Villa have moved to declare that Kodjia will return to the AVFC matchday squad for tomorrow’s game against Hull City.

Kodjia struggled upon his first return from injury earlier this season and didn’t seem to click well with a team that seemingly transformed during his absence, with Keinan Davis being thrust into a starting role.

Times have changed since then, and new man Lewis Grabban is the preferred choice up front - but has seen action on the wing for Villa in the past. Kodjia is also familiar with a wide role, with some of his best displays coming when the striker can cut inside from out on the flank.

In other injury news, it seems that both Axel Tuanzebe and Alan Hutton have returned to fitness, bolstering Steve Bruce’s defensive choices after fielding a patchwork back-four against Bolton that saw James Bree play on his ‘weaker’ side on the left-flank.

It might be too soon for Kodjia to start a game for Villa, but don’t be surprised if he makes a cameo tomorrow. Welcome back Jonathan.