---
title: "Ezri Konsa and Ross Barkley back in training ahead of Palace clash"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/24/konsa-barkley-training-return-villa-palace-injury-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2020-12-24T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-12-24T16:00:00Z"
---

# Ezri Konsa and Ross Barkley back in training ahead of Palace clash

Aston Villa have [confirmed](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2020/december/Match-Pack-Crystal-Palace/) that [Ezri Konsa](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/22/dean-smith-delivers-positive-fitness-update-ezri-konsa/) and [Ross Barkley](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/22/ross-barkley-fit-for-palace-clash-villa-injury-latest/) have returned to training ahead of the Boxing Day clash at home to Crystal Palace.

The 23-year-old defender had been out of action [due to illness](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-mings-suspension-barkley-19495417), while the on-loan midfielder was [suffering with a hamstring injury](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-mings-suspension-barkley-19495417), but the pair could make the matchday squad for the weekend clash against the Eagles.

Konsa [missed Villa’s last two matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ezri-konsa/leistungsdaten/spieler/413403), forcing Dean Smith to [name Bjorn Engels on the bench](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bjorn-engels/leistungsdaten/spieler/193469). The Villa manager will have a decision to make whether to bring the 23-year-old back into the starting XI, name two centre-backs among his substitutes or give Konsa further time to prove his fitness.

Barkley has [missed the last four matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978) through injury. With Smith naming two right-backs in Ahmed Elmohamady and Frederic Guilbert [on the bench against Albion](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3421812), it seems likely that one will be sacrificed for the England midfielder.

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

Villa come into Saturday’s game off the back of [two wins and a draw](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/spielplandatum/verein/405) from their last three matches.

They have [kept consecutive clean sheets](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/spielplandatum/verein/405), too, so a Palace side [winless in their last three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/crystal-palace/spielplan/verein/873/saison_id/2020) and coming off the back of a 7-0 home defeat to Liverpool might struggle, especially with Smith set to welcome Konsa and Barkley back into the fold.

***In other news, [one Villa player](https://readastonvilla.com/2020/12/24/trezeguet-to-miss-palace-clash-through-injury/) has been ruled out of the Boxing Day clash through injury.***