Aston Villa will look to continue their recent upturn in form when they host Brentford at Villa Park on Saturday.
One of the pre-season promotion favourites, Steve Bruce’s men took just one point from their opening three Championship fixtures before they beat Norwich City 4-2 at home and picked up a 1-1 draw against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Those two results were sandwiched by a 4-1 victory against Wigan Athletic in the EFL Cup, and the Midlands outfit look to finally be hitting their stride after a tough start to the campaign as they target a return to the Premier League.
With some players returning from injury and a new signing being added to the squad, Bruce certainly has some decisions to make when it comes to his starting line-up before the clash against Brentford, who have taken just two points from their five league games.
Here are three selection dilemmas Bruce faces ahead of the visit from the Bees…
Hutton, De Laet, Bree or Elmohamady
Aston Villa boss Bruce has favoured a 3-4-3 formation in recent weeks, but he may have a decision to make with the Birmingham Mail saying that Christopher Samba is a potential doubt for the visit of Brentford after picking up a knee injury in the draw against Bristol City.
Ahmed Elmohamady started as a wing-back at Ashton Gate but if Bruce does revert to four at the back, the Egyptian will be competing with Alan Hutton, James Bree and Ritchie De Laet for the right-back spot, with the former set to return to action after an ankle injury ruled him out against the Robins.
Hutton was the first-choice in the position at the start of the campaign, and he could get the nod again on Saturday.
Whelan or Jedinak
Mile Jedinak suffered a groin injury while on international duty with Australia in June, and it has kept him on the sidelines ever since.
However, the Birmingham Mail suggests that he could make his comeback against Brentford on Saturday, leaving Steve Bruce with a big decision to make in the holding midfield role.
The 33-year-old former Crystal Palace man was a key player for Villa last season and with Conor Hourihane unlikely to drop out of the side having scored a hat-trick in the win against Norwich, it leaves him and new boy Glenn Whelan fighting over the remaining spot in the middle of the park.
It hasn’t been an easy start to life at Villa Park for Whelan – although things have improved more recently – but he could easily be replaced by Jedinak this weekend.
Green or Snodgrass
Following a disappointing start to the season, Bruce decided to put his faith in his younger players for the visit of Norwich City last month and they certainly didn’t let him down.
Andre Green was one of those handed a start against the Canaries, and he made a big impression by scoring a brilliant curler in an important 4-2 win.
The 19-year-old was rewarded by keeping his spot on the left for the draw against Bristol City, but his place could come under threat following the arrival of Robert Snodgrass from West Ham United on a season-long loan deal.
The experienced winger will expect to be a regular starter at this level, and Bruce must decide whether he continues to support Green or opts for the older and wiser head out wide.
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