Dean Smith spoke to the media via a virtual press conference to preview Aston Villa’s home clash against West Ham United.
The club’s head coach discussed the January transfer window, Saturday’s matchwinner Ross Barkley, November’s reverse clash against the Hammers, what he expects at Villa Park on Wednesday (ko 8.15pm) as well as the latest team news, including an injury to defender Kortney Hause.
Here’s what he had to say…
On the January transfer window…
“It’s players who needed to go out to go play games and wanted to play games, the likes of Conor Hourihane, Fred Guilbert, who haven’t had much game time recently.
“They’ll come back better for that for us in the summer.
“Henri had a mutual agreement with the club and we wish him well. He’s great to work with, I really enjoyed my time with Henri.
“And incomings, Morgan was one who we earmarked and thought it was a really good value-for-money acquisition.
“Good quality player and we did that early.
“I said it wouldn’t be a really busy period for us, this January, we did a lot of work last season and in the summer this season as well.”
On Ross Barkley…
“He’s a top player.
“That’s why we wanted to get him, it’s why he’s been at the top of the game all of his career playing for Everton and then Chelsea.
“We’re fortunate Chelsea have allowed him to come out on loan and play his football here this season.
“When top players play with each other, you can see the link they get, hence Jack’s ball for Ross (at Southampton) and the link up between Ross, Bertrand, Jack and Ollie because they’re four really good players.
“I still believe there’s more to come from Ross, he’s played more minutes than he’s trained over the last 12 weeks.
“He’s had a hamstring injury, had to come off very early in the Brighton game, and since then, because we had a 10-day period where we weren’t training and he was fit, he was training on his own.
“It’s been difficult for him but he’s certainly getting back up to speed where he was before he got inured.”
On November’s clash against West Ham…
“We can learn a lot (from that game).
“We played very well in the game, we gave away two very soft goals, at the start of the first half from a corner, and we’ve seen all season what a threat they are from set-pieces.
“We certainly have to be at our best against them set-piece-wise.
“But we played ever so well and deserved something out of that game, probably all three points.
“There was a very, very, very marginal decision at the end where Ollie Watkins scores a goal and was deemed offside even though he was getting fouled in the penalty box.
“It was a tough one to take at the time but we certainly bounced back well after that and had a good run.
“We’ll be looking forward to the game, they’ve had a fantastic season and I’ve got a lot of respect for David Moyes and what he’s doing.”
On Wednesday’s encounter at Villa Park…
“It will be a good football game.
“I think both teams want to play progressive football, both teams want to score goals and win football games.
“I’ve always said there’s a big difference between trying to win and trying not to lose and I think both teams will try to win, which should make for an entertaining game.”
On team news…
“Kortney has had his scan and he’s got a problem with his foot, he’s going to be out for at least 4-6 weeks.
“It was a bit of a blow for everyone because he came in the team, played four games and was excellent. It’s disappointing we’ve lost him for a period of time.
“Other than that, everyone is okay.”
