According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa are set to be without Gabby Agbonlahor for Sunday’s Second City derby with Birmingham City, with it taking an almighty push for the striker to be up to speed after a number of weeks out of first-team action.

Agbonlahor has been out of action since early September, struggling with a calf injury. The 31-year-old has returned to training recently, but it is unlikely he will be available for this Sunday’s derby with Birmingham.

The Birmingham-born striker scored the match-winning goal in the last Second City derby, which took place towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign. According to the Birmingham Mail, Agbonlahor could miss out on the matchday 18, but could still be involved in Villa’s travelling party.

Steve Bruce’s side head into the derby in terrific form, having lost just once in the Championship since mid-August, winning five of their last six fixtures, which has helped Villa rise to fifth in the table, just five points behind second placed, Cardiff City.

Villa bounced back from a recent defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon, recording a 2-1 victory over Fulham, which propelled Bruce’s side into the play-off zone. Sunday’s opponents, Birmingham, enter the contest narrowly outside the relegation zone.

The Verdict

Agbonlahor has a reputation of producing in this particular fixture, but it is unlikely Bruce would have put his faith in the striker even if he was fully fit.

Jonathan Kodjia will be the man Villa turn to on Sunday, and if Bruce opts for an alternative, Keinan Davis and Scott Hogan will provide able cover for the prolific Ivorian.

Agbonlahor’s experience in this fixture means he will be important to Villa in the build-up to Sunday.

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