Traore poised for Villa debut at Ashton Gate
ASTON Villa are set to give new £17 million forward Bertrand Traore his debut at Bristol City tonight in the Carabao Cup, but Dean Smith has issues at the other end of the pitch.
Fresh from signing a new fouryear contract, Tyrone Mings may be required to play three matches inside a week due to injuries to fellow centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Bjorn Engels.
Konsa played and scored in the 1-0 victory against Sheffield United with a tight hamstring but it looks unlikely that Smith will want to risk him to play against City, with another Premier League game on Monday against Fulham.
Engels missed the game against the Blades with a thigh strain and there’s no indication he’ll fit in time to take on the Robins.
That leaves Mings and Kortney
Hause as Smith’s senior options for the centre of his defence, although the two did partner up for the 3-1 win at Burton Albion in the previous round.
Hause was an unused substitute at Villa Park on Monday night along with full-back Neil Taylor, wingback Ahmed Elmohamady and midfielder Anwar El Ghazi, all who should be involved tonight.
Smith started Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins in the Burton cup tie but with Fulham on the horizon, it would be a surprise to see them in the XI against City.
The Villa manager did confirm that Traore will play as the former Chelsea forward’s debut was delayed by paperwork as his transfer went through last Friday, after the league deadline.
Traore was signed for £17m from Lyon where he scored 33 goals in 125 games.
“All the paperwork’s done now and he’ll be ready for Bristol City,” said Smith.
“He brings us extra quality which we need and competition for places is what we want if we’re to be a high-quality team. We’re building towards that.
“Last season was a tough start, a baptism and we had to bed in a lot of players.
“This season we just felt there’s no newness about it. There’s an expectancy from myself that we’ll be much better this season.”
Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of Scotland defender Scott McKenna from Aberdeen.
The centre-back moves to the City Ground for what Aberdeen said was a record transfer fee for the Scottish club, believed to be about £3 million.
McKenna, 23, came through the Dons’ youth ranks, making more than 100 appearances.