Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Aston Villa - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - August 14, 2021 Aston Villa's Danny Ings celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
As confirmed by Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard, his side will be without striker Danny Ings – with the player also sidelined alongside Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet ahead of Man City tonight.
The Lowdown: Gerrard era begins…
It has been a fine start to the Liverpool legend’s managerial career in the Midlands with Gerrard so far amassing a 100% win rate over his first two matches in charge.
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Victories against Brighton and Crystal Palace have cemented a dream start for the 41-year-old but fixtures are about to come quick, fast and in greater difficulty.
Next up, the Villans take on Premier League champions and 2021/2022 title chasers Man City at Villa Park this evening and Gerrard has now confirmed that he will be without another player alongside Trezeguet and Traore.
The Latest: Gerrard confirms Ings ‘setback’…
As explained by Gerrard, summer signing Ings will not be available for the City clash tonight due to suffering an injury setback, coming after he made the bench against Palace.
“Danny, unfortunately, won’t make Man City. We were protecting him at the weekend,” he said (via Birmingham Live).
“He’s had a little bit of a setback – a previous injury – nothing major, but we had to put the brakes on for a few days at the least.”
“So there’ll be one change in the squad – Keinan Davis will replace Danny Ings, the rest is as it was the last time.”
The Verdict: Blow for Gerrard…
Being without the 29-year-old for this evening will come as a dampener for Villa as they seek to maintain their brilliant run of form since Gerrard’s arrival at the club.
Lauded as a ‘phenomenal‘ striker by pundit Frank McAvennie, the Villans could have done with the addition of another option up front and alternative threat.
Out of Villa’s entire squad, Ings is also their joint top-scorer and joint-highest provider of assists in the Premier League (WhoScored) – outlining just how useful he can be when available.
His sublime overhead kick against Newcastle United earlier this campaign highlights an obvious forward threat and Villa certainly could have done with that injection of quality today.
In other news: Lange now weighing Aston Villa bid to sign top class £30m+ man as agents work behind the scenes, find out more here.
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