SPEND TO END STUFF
Bruce admits: We have no cash to splash in window
ASTON VILLA v BRISTOL CITY Villa Park, 5.30pm JOHN TERRY is on the verge of a return, but Steve Bruce has been told there’s no money for any further reinforcements at Aston Villa.
Today’s visit by promotion rivals Bristol City comes just too soon for the former England and Chelsea defender, who has been out for two months with a foot injury.
The influential 37-yearold is set to make his comeback in the weekend FA Cup clash with Peterborough, but Bruce will have to wheel and deal this month, if he is to bring in any further new faces to accompany the welcome return of his skipper.
Villa are only out of the top six on goal difference, after a diving header from Robert Snodgrass snapped a five-game winless streak, with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough.
Bruce (above) said: “We’re down to the bare bones, without nine senior players, and we’ve got a lack of real firepower at the moment.
“I’d love to sit here and say a club like ours should be trying to buy a centre-forward in this window, but we certainly can’t do it. We’ve got some good young players here to call on, and we’ve got to go with what we’ve got.”
City head coach Lee Johnson has given a vote of confidence to his No.2 keeper Luke Steele.
The 33-year-old signing from Panathinaikos last summer will make his league debut for the Robins, in place of the suspended Frank Fielding, sent off during Saturday’s defeat to Wolves.
Steele has already helped City reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, playing in victories over Stoke City, Crystal Palace and, most recently, Manchester United in the quarter-finals.
Johnson said: “Luke has been fantastic for us in those games and is more than adequate cover for Frankie.
“He made some great saves against United and I have no doubts he will do an equally good job against Villa.”
Johnson is hopeful his highflying Robins will bounce back quickly after the disappointment of losing to an injury-time goal against Wolves.
“We have to pick ourselves up,” he added. “Hopefully, we will be battling it out with Villa at the top end of the table in the months to come, and it’s an important game for both clubs.”