Ross Barkley is “getting closer” to returning from injury ahead of Aston Villa’s meeting with Burnley on Thursday, Dean Smith said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
The 27-year-old is struggling with a hamstring injury which caused him to miss Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham and 1-0 win over Wolves, but it remains to be seen if he will feature against the Clarets.
Smith told Villa TV: “We’re going to have a look at Ross (on Wednesday) in training, he’s getting closer and closer, we’ll have a look and see how he is.”
Barkley has made six appearances in all competitions since joining on a season-long loan from Chelsea, scoring one goal and supplying one assist. His last outing came in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and saw him withdrawn after five minutes due to injury. [Transfermarkt]
The England international has already missed two games and could be out of action for a third as he is unlikely to be fully match-fit for Thursday’s clash.
READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT
It’s good news that Barkley is on the recovery trail, but Smith could instead give the nod to Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, Conor Hourihane and Marvelous Nakamba as a precaution.
It remains to be seen if Barkley will feature against Burnley, but he could play in some capacity against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, judging by Smith’s encouraging update.
In other news, Dean Smith has provided a positive injury update on three of Barkley’s team-mates.
