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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has been handed yet another injury blow as Henri Lansbury was hauled off against Birmingham City. The gaffer may have some good news, too, as John McGinn nears a return, maybe against Nottingham Forest, per reports in the Birmingham Mail.
What’s the word?
McGinn has been sidelined with a calf strain that forced the Scotsman to withdraw from international duty earlier in the month.
Smith has now claimed the 24-year-old was desperate to feature in Sunday’s derby win, but decided to preserve his ace for the upcoming tests instead.
“I’m hopeful that John will be back for Wednesday [Nottingham Forest], but I don’t know yet,” Smith said.
“He’s got a little bit of William Wallace about him and wanted to play today, but I couldn’t risk losing him and him being out for another couple of games.”
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One player who may be joining Birkir Bjarnason in the medical room is Lansbury, however.
The 28-year-old was making his Championship season-debut, and first outing since Smith replaced Steve Bruce, but played for just eight minutes on Sunday.
Speaking on the former-Forest star, Smith added: “He got brought down and felt his hamstring. He went to recover but couldn’t continue.
“I’m hopeful that it isn’t too bad and we got him off quickly enough to avoid any further damage.”
A welcome boost for Smith
Before McGinn’s calf strain, he had been Smith’s go-to in central midfield and featured for the 47-year-old more than any other in his position.
Across the season as a whole, the 5 foot 10 Glasgow-born ace still leads the way for Villa regarding tackles attempted and completed, passes blocked and long key passes.
The 13-cap international’s return will be a welcome boost for a side now on the cusp of the Play-Off positions and can draw level on points with their next guests, as Forest sits in seventh, three points and three goals to the good.
