Aston Villa have confirmed that Trezeguet will miss Boxing Day’s meeting with Crystal Palace.
The 26-year-old is still carrying a hamstring injury from November’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United and has missed Villa’s last three games.
In his absence, Dean Smith is likely to stick with Anwar El Ghazi and Bertrand Traore out wide, as the pair both got on the scoresheet against West Brom last Sunday.
El Ghazi netted a brace while Traore scored one goal and set up another, so their places in the team are unlikely to be up for grabs. Jack Grealish operated in a central role at The Hawthorns and may do the same on Saturday.
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Trezeguet probably isn’t much of a loss for Villa. The Egyptian international has made 10 appearances in all competitions this season but is without a goal and only has two assists to his name. He created three chances in October’s 7-2 win over Liverpool but has only managed three in the subsequent six games (WhoScored).
Trezeguet hasn’t recorded a successful dribble in two of his last three appearances either, so he wouldn’t be starting on merit despite regularly being in the first XI prior to his injury. Smith will hope that El Ghazi and Traore can pick up from where they left off when Palace come to town on Boxing Day.
In other news, one Aston Villa player is being linked with a return to mainland Europe.
