Dean Smith met the media on Friday morning as he looked ahead to tomorrow's game against Brentford.
The Aston Villa head coach gave his thoughts on a number of topics in the build-up to the Premier League clash.
Here's what he had to say...
On team news…
“Ollie Watkins will train with us today and if he gets through training, he’ll be available for selection.
“It’s a club where he spent a lot of time and it was a very successful period for him, in terms of goalscoring. They helped develop him into the player he is today.
On Leon Bailey: “His progress is going ok but tomorrow will come too soon for him, the same with Bertrand Traore. I expect both of them to be fit for the first game after the international break.
“Morgan Sanson is training fully with us now. He’s had no match exposure, so he’s likely to play a couple of games in the next week or two.
“Keinan Davis is coming out of a brace tomorrow and he’ll be three or four weeks away from training.”
On Barrow win…
“People can say it’s only League Two Barrow but these are tough trips for any club, a potential banana skin with nothing to win and a lot to lose.
“Our players made the best of the opportunity that was afforded them, none more so than Cameron Archer who scored a fantastic hat-trick.
“The likes of AJ (Aaron Ramsey) getting his first appearance for Aston Villa, Hayden Lindley the same. There was a great attitude and application from the senior pros who played as well.”
On Anwar El Ghazi…
“You only have to look at his stats from last season – he scored ten goals in the Premier League, which can get overlooked at times as a wide player.
“It’s a good return from a wide player who didn’t start every game. This season, he’s started really well and got his goal against Newcastle.
“He came off at 4-0 [v Barrow] with two goals and two assists to his name, so it shows you the kind of form he’s in."
On Brentford…
“Their progress has been there for all to see over the last seven or eight years. Under the ownership of Matthew Benham, it’s been nothing but remarkable.
“The signings that they’ve made, the transfer money that they’ve made and their progression now to becoming a Premier League club with a fantastic new stadium.
“I was certainly cheering them on to get into the Premier League and I’m looking forward to pitting my wits against my old assistant, Thomas Frank.”
