Aston Villa have mounting injury problems heading into today’s clash with Stoke City and are set to be without Jack Grealish and a number of other first-team stars.

Dean Smith has been dealt the blow of losing Grealish to injury, with the 23-year-old picking up a shin problem in the 2-2 draw with West Brom last weekend.

Sky Sports’ matchday preview has confirmed that Grealish will sit out today’s clash with Stoke, as will Neil Taylor, handing Smith a further dilemma at left-back.

Add to that, Albert Adomah, Henri Lansbury, Birkir Bjarnason, James Bree and Mile Jedinak will all also be unavailable to Smith against the improving Stoke.

It’s a six-pointer between two of the Championship’s play-off chasing sides, but Villa will fancy their chance at Villa Park.

Heading into the fixture, Smith has his side on a six-match unbeaten run, with Villa winning four and drawing two of those fixtures.

Impressive victories over Derby, Birmingham and Middlesbrough have come in that time, whilst draws were recorded against Nottingham Forest and West Brom.

Stoke also enter the clash in good form and are unbeaten in their last eight Championship fixtures.

The Verdict

This afternoon is a tough test for Villa, particularly due to the mounting injury list.

Grealish’s absence is the big blow on paper and Villa might struggle to create without the 23-year-old on the field.

There’s no doubt that Stoke will see this as a chance to end Villa’s unbeaten run.

Thoughts? Let us know!

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