Aston Villa defender Frederic Guilbert could return to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 12, according to Birmingham Live, although it remains to be seen whether he’d make the matchday squad given his lack of activity this season.
The 25-year-old has been out of action with an abdominal injury but returned to training at the end of November. Guilbert wasn’t deemed fit enough by Dean Smith to feature in Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Monday, but he should be available for the trip to Molineux.
Giving an update on the Frenchman’s fitness, Smith said: “He’s back in training”. Guilbert has made only two appearances in all competitions this season, both of which came in the Carabao Cup. Not only has the right-back not featured in the Premier League, he’s not even made the matchday squad once. [Transfermarkt]
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Matty Cash and Ahmed Elmohamady find themselves ahead of Guilbert in the right-back pecking order, so the news of his return is bittersweet. The Frenchman still has nearly three years remaining on his contract at Villa Park, but he may need to leave in January to get more playing time – temporarily or permanently.
Elmohamady is in the final year of his contract, so perhaps there’s a chance Guilbert provide cover for Cash next season – if he is willing to wait that long.
In other news, one decision from Aston Villa has received a very positive response.
