Following this week’s international break it is crunch time for Aston Villa in the Sky Bet Championship, with Steve Bruce’s side looking to secure promotion back to the Premier League. 

Villa have been magnificent all season, with Bruce’s side putting last year’s disappointing mid-table finish behind them to become promotion contenders during the 2017/18 campaign.

Currently, Villa sit fourth in the Championship table, with the play-offs looking their most likely route to promotion, following back-to-back defeats prior to the international break.

Those disappointing defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Bolton Wanderers have left Villa seven points adrift of Cardiff City in second, with the Welsh outfit now in firm control of the race for second.

The international break came at a perfect time for Villa, who had certainly hit a bump in the road in recent weeks.

Here at FLW, we take a look at the THREE things Bruce needs to be working on this week…

It sounds basic, but Villa’s confidence looked to have gone when they faced Bolton prior to the international break.

Two crushing defeats in the space of a week will have hurt Bruce’s squad, who will need picking up ahead of the run-in.

Bruce needs to help his squad get their mojo back.

Kodjia was Villa’s key man last season, bagging 19 Championship goals.

However, this year the striker has missed the bulk of the season through injury.

Kodjia is now edging closer to a return and Bruce needs to make sure his leading striker is getting back to full fitness ahead of the run-in.

The Ivorian could be the difference in the play-offs.

Another injury problem Villa had heading into the international break involved Alan Hutton, who has missed key fixtures due to a hamstring injury.

We know Hutton is back in full training, and Villa need to be working to make sure the defender’s hamstring is right.

Villa can’t afford to lose Hutton again this season, as he is key.