Villa recall Elphick from Hull to shore up shaky defence

ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith has been to Hull and back to help make certain the club’s promotion campaign isn’t derailed.

At the first opportunity he has recalled experienced defender Tommy Elphick from his loan spell at Hull.

He is desperate for reinforcements at the back, knowing his ambitious side were fortunate to escape with a point against a free-running Preston team who overcame the loss of 10 injured first-teamers.

Villa were adventurous up front with Tammy Abraham adding to his prolific goal tally, but lacked confidence at the other end.

Papering over the cracks with three right-backs operating in the back four can’t last for ever, a fact quickly acknowledged by Smith.

“James Chester has also had a grumbling knee for a while now. He has been soldiering on, so our only fit centre-half has been playing for Hull City,” he said. “It will be nice to have Tommy back. We’ve exercised the option to bring him back.

“We are also looking to bring in other defenders. We are lacking numbers at the back, that’s for sure.”

Now Smith is praying that Chelsea don’t trigger their clause that allows them to cut short Abraham’s loan spell.

The Villa boss admitted: “Chelsea have an option to call Tammy back in

January. We haven’t heard from them and what we believe is that we won’t.

“He’s enjoying his football and developing as a player. They seem very happy with him here.”

Abraham’s close-range header before the break and against the run of play was his 14th goal of the season.

Smith added: “Tammy keeps showing for us. You think one minute he’s going to tire and then suddenly he shows a bundle of energy running into the corner, challenging centre halves, pulling the ball down. He is doing very well and has scored another.”

Preston equalised through a loanee of their own, Manchester City youngster Lukas Nmecha, although he faces a fight to claim his first senior goal with the ball also striking Villa’s Ahmed Elmohamady. Deepdale boss Alex Neil was a proud if exhausted man as his young side – that included a cameo appearance off the bench for the club’s youngest league debutant in 16-year-old Ethan Walker – were well worth at least a point.

Neil said: “I spoke at length to the players before the game to make sure they didn’t feel as if they were victims, because when you have so many injuries it’s easy to feel sorry for yourselves. “We didn’t. They rolled up their sleeves and showed what we can do. The young players have got real determination and hunger to get better. “Sometimes that energy can be good for the rest of your team. “That’s as tired as I’ve ever been after a game and I didn’t do any running. The kids have set a benchmark of what they are capable of. They must take huge confidence from that.”