James Chester put in a strong performance for Aston Villa during their 5-0 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

On the chalkboard

Chester's dedication to Aston Villa has been well documented, as he put his body on the line to help the club get out of the Championship, playing for months while injured.

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He admitted this will have long-lasting impacts on his body, as quoted by The Birmingham Mail: “I've damaged my body indefinitely. It's something I'm going to have to manage for the rest of my career.

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“Hopefully I can look after it and play for as long as possible. It is what it is, I'm a professional."

It is this dedication to the cause that has made the 30-year-old a cult hero at Villa Park, so it will have caused plenty of excitement to see him back on the pitch for the first time since a 2-1 win against Ipswich Town in January.

Encouraging signs

Not only was this a big occasion because of the fact that the club captain was returning from injury, but he also put in a solid performance, helping Villa to the Carabao Cup semi-final.

He was dominant alongside Ezri Konsa, making five clearances, three tackles and winning all five of his duels during the match, as per SofaScore.

The Wales international was also efficient on the ball, completing 86% of the passes that he attempted.

When he left the pitch, Chester received a great ovation from the crowd and it was thoroughly deserved, not just for the fact he had managed to work his way back onto the pitch, but also for what he did once getting there.

The skipper is not stopping there though, as he was quoted in The Express & Star as saying: “Before Tuesday it would have been difficult to knock on the manager's door because I'm not under any illusions at not playing any football between January and now.

“But I felt really good being back out on the pitch. There are a lot of games between now and the end of January. Hopefully, I can get back in the team.

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“We'll just have to wait and see. It would certainly be a nice Christmas present!"

This may have been against youthful opposition, but if he continues playing in the manner shown on Tuesday, Chester could get himself in with a chance of getting back into the team.

In other news, another defender staked their claim for a starting spot against Sheffield United.