Steve Bruce has revealed that he plans to include a mixture of experienced and youth academy players in the Aston Villa squad to face Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
The Claret and Blue host Garry Monk’s side exactly a week after their previous clash in the Championship, which ended in a goalless draw with both teams going down to ten men.
As Bruce prepares his squad for the third round tie of the Carabao Cup, the boss aims to adopt a similar style to his side’s previous Cup clashes against Wigan and Colchester.
“We’ve had two good results in this competition and we want a third, we want to progress to build a bit of momentum too,” Bruce told the club’s official website.
“In this competition so far I have blended experience and youth and I plan on doing the same tonight.
“But, the key point is, regardless of the people in the team I pick, I’m looking for them to do the business and get us a win this evening.”
This means that fringe players like Tommy Elphick may get a long needed run out after falling out of favour to Bruce as well as youth starlets like Jake Doyle-Hayes and Callum O’Hare.
OPINION
Adopting the style of mixing experience and youth players is a fantastic way to give squad members well needed playing time as well as developing academy youngsters in the senior squad. It also allows Bruce to give his regular first-choice players a rest ahead of their next Championship clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday at Villa Park. There is a fine line as the boss can’t risk playing an unsteady and unpracticed team as a win in the competition is still incredibly important. It’s a bonus that they’re facing Middlesbrough again as Villa will know what to expect from Garry Monk’s side.