OPINION
Ahead of one of the biggest matches of their season against league leaders Wolves, Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce delivered the news that every single fan has been hoping to hear.
As reported by the club’s website, Bruce confirmed that last season’s top scorer Jonathan Kodjia is to return to training on Monday after spending over four months on the sidelines in a massive boost for the club’s promotion hopes.
Ivory Coast international forward Kodjia had been missing for Villa’s opening ten games of the season as he recovered from an ankle injury that required surgery over the summer.
The hit man then returned in mid-September and registered one goal and two assists in eight matches before the injury was aggravated while on international duty.
Surgery was once again required, and it was initially thought that Kodjia was not to play again this season.
However, the 28-year-old has defied expectations in his recovery and now looks set to return to first-team action in the coming weeks.
Fans reactions on Twitter show just how much this news means to Villa as they chase promotion back to the Premier League, and Kodjia’s return now makes the club favourites for that second spot in the table.
Goals have not necessarily been an issue for Villa this season, who possess the league’s third best attack, but the return of Kodjia will mean scoring comes more naturally to this side.
Kodjia’s 19 league goals last season were massive in his first season at Villa Park, and he would no doubt have surpassed that tally had he been fit this season.
Villa now have eleven crucial games left in their league season to clinch promotion, and only three of those come against real promotion candidates.
If Villa win the other eight matches they will surely clinch that second automatic promotion spot, and secure their return to the Premier League after just two seasons away.
Kodjia’s return will help them do so, as they will possess an attack that is capable of dismantling most teams in the league.
Main rivals for that spot, Cardiff and Fulham, both have much harder run-ins than Villa.
So, if Kodjia gets going soon after his return, neither will even have a sniff of finishing second, and Villa will be back where they belong.