Dean Smith has reflected on what has been a “tough period” and provided an update on the latest at Bodymoor Heath as Aston Villa prepare to return to action.
The Club was forced to close its training ground on January 7 after a significant Covid-19 outbreak which affected a large number of first-team players and staff.
A youthful Academy side did Villa proud in the FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool before the subsequent Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Everton were postponed.
Members of the squad and staff who are healthy and safe to return to training will do so on Sunday when the isolation protocols will have been observed, with a trip to Manchester City coming up on Wednesday.
And head coach Smith has revealed his players will come back at different stages under staggered returns.
Speaking to VillaTV, he said: “I told one player that he’d tested positive and he said ‘no chance, I’m flying, really good, totally asymptomatic’, two days later he’s laid up in bed.
“And he ended up symptomatic.
“So we’ve had a mixture of some players being asymptomatic and some with symptoms.
“The hardest part about this is they all come back at different stages now as well, some have obviously got the symptoms earlier than others.
“So we’re trying to get a timetable now, which is very staggered, of when they will all come back.”
Dean also took the opportunity to praise the club’s youngsters, Under-23s boss Mark Delaney and everyone associated with the Academy following the FA Cup performance against Liverpool last Friday.
The club’s Young Lions stepped in at short notice and put in a battling display to hold a strong Reds side level at 1-1 until the hour mark before eventually losing the encounter 4-1 at Villa Park, earning plenty of recognition for their valiant efforts.
“We ended up with a young team going out against Liverpool and making, certainly myself and my staff and everybody associated with Aston Villa, very proud that night,” added Smith.
“Louie Barry getting his first goal, 11 debuts (in the starting XI) and a really good performance against the world champions.
“It’s been a tough period but we have to make sure we worry, first and foremost, about the people who have tested positive and make sure they make a healthy return to the football club.”
You can watch Part Two of Dean’s in-depth three-part interview here…
