The Birmingham Mail's Ashley Preece has revealed that Aston Villa star Bertrand Traore has suffered an injury while on international duty.

What's the story?

The winger has played four times in the Premier League for Dean Smith's side, but that has totalled just 53 minutes worth of first-team action.

And now, it appears that he's set for another spell on the sidelines following an injury he picked up during his time with Burkina Faso in the last week.

Writing on Twitter, Preece said: "I'm told Bertrand Traore has a thigh injury & has missed Burkina Faso's two encounters with Djibouti. Another blow for the #avfc winger who was out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain earlier this season."

Dean Smith will be gutted

Since joining Villa last season, the former Lyon star has struggled to get consistent game-time but has shown flashes of the "immense talent" that Smith has hailed - his debut campaign in English football saw him manage a respectable total of seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League, albeit with a frustrating lack of consistency.

His performance in the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat against Chelsea earlier this campaign showed signs that he could be ready to make his impact in his second full season at the club.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for Birmingham Mail, Preece gave him a seven, saying: "Started on the right of a three behind Archer and the Burkinabe was dangerous. Traore had a hand in Archer's two first-half chances, the second one a nice weighted ball into the teenage striker after running from the halfway line.

"Traore was nice on the eye and soldiered on after taking a knock to the neck in the first half. Linked up nicely with Sanson in the middle prior to the Frenchman's withdrawal. Traore also had a couple of tame, low efforts saved by Kepa."

But now, just when he would have thought of really pushing on and trying to nail down a first-team place, he's been hit with injury, and could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

What will make his task even more difficult is how soon fellow teammate and winger Leon Bailey makes his return from injury, and that would just push him further down the pecking order.

Smith will no doubt be gutted at losing Traore.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has delivered an update on Ollie Watkins' future...