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Aston Villa have been boosted by the news that Keinan Davis has stepped up his recovery from a groin operation.

Davis is yet to turn out for Villa this season after struggling with a groin injury, which was ultimately operated on in the middle of last month.

What's the latest?

Well, Villa boss Dean Smith spoke about the situation in his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend's trip to Derby County in the Championship.

BirminghamLive quotes Smith as saying:

"Keinan is starting his rehab now so he should be back on the training ground within the next two or three weeks."

It is unlikely that Davis will be available for selection until the latter stages of 2018, and it might well be the New Year before the attacker is seen in a Villa shirt again.

The update is extremely positive, however, and the 20-year-old will be like a new signing for Villa in the second half of the 2018-19 campaign.

What does Davis bring to Villa?

The 6ft 3in forward joined Villa in 2015, and made seven first-team appearances for the club during the 2016-17 campaign.

Last term, Davis scored three times in 30 appearances in all competitions, and certainly showed that he can be a threat to Championship defences.

Neither Tammy Abraham nor Jonathan Kodjia have been prolific for Villa this term, and it is too much to expect Davis to come in and score 10 times in the second half of the season.

The England Under-20 international will give Smith options in the final third, however, and Villa will certainly be hoping that they are in a better position in the Championship table by the time that 2019 rolls around.

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