OPINION
While Aston Villa’s hopes for automatic promotion look all but over after Cardiff City’s eighth win in a row on Friday, there is still much to play for this season.
Firstly, Steve Bruce must guide his side into the play-offs, which is looking likely right now with Villa holding a seven-point advantage over sixth-placed Middlesbrough with a game in hand.
However, as we all know, the Championship is a dangerous place, and Villa must not get complacent in the last eight games of their season.
The play-offs themselves are almost a lottery, but there is one step that Bruce can take to give his side the best chance of winning promotion back to the promised land of the Premier League: unleash Andre Green.
The 19-year-old winger has been unfortunate with injuries this season, being struck down by a serious hamstring complaint just two games after scoring his first goal for the club.
That injury, allied with a separate issue in the same area, has meant that Green has been sat on the sidelines for the majority of the season.
However, the dazzler is now almost back to full fitness, completing 45 minutes in a training ground friendly last week, and Bruce must unleash the rarely-seen star in last few games of the season.
Villa have at times this season been lacking a direct attacking threat, someone who runs at defences and causes havoc with their no-nonsense play.
Albert Adomah sometimes steps into that role, as does Jack Grealish, but the side have been lacking a genuine threat down the wings on several occasions.
Green is the man to provide that, with his pace and skill allowing him to get down the touchline and create chances for teammates and for himself.
The 19-year-old will be fresh and raring to go when he returns, especially after signing a new deal with the club recently, and he could be Villa’s secret weapon by the time the play-offs roll around.