Bruce: It’s 2 steps forward ...then 3 back

IT was with a rueful smile and a shake of the head that Steve Bruce revealed Villa’s latest injury setback.

Or, more accurately, setbacks.

As John Terry works his way back to fitness – Chris Samba is now lost for a month.

Mile Jedinak returns to the side – Henri Lansbury pulls up lame. Scott Hogan is back in – Alan Hutton is out.

The striker shortage might be showing signs of easing but in defence, in particular, Bruce is being forced into a ‘next batter up’ philosophy.

“We seem to take two steps forward and three back at the moment,” was his assessment. And these are no mere excuses. Villa are battling away in the top six, despite their squad depth and not because of it.

Bruce added it was no surprise Villa found direct, upand-at-you Millwall a handful without the spine of his ideal team.

Which is one area where last Saturday’s opponents Derby have stiffened. Gary Rowett likes a side with backbone and the Rams proved too strong for Villa at Pride Park.

Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Bristol City will also provide a stern test of Villa’s promotion credentials as the games come thick and fast against opponents desperate to prey on any sign of weakness from one of the Championship’s big hitters.

“It couldn’t have been any more difficult over a crazy period of time,” Bruce noted.

By the time Terry returns, probably at some stage over the Christmas programme (he is now back on the training pitch), Villa will be midway through their campaign and at a stage where they have to deal with injuries and keep pace with the contenders.

Deep down Bruce knows the next few weeks are going to be a battle and he also knows it’s a time when Villa will need to take three steps forward and very few back – with whoever’s best foot is there to be put forward.