Aston Villa prepare to take on Ipswich Town this weekend in the Sky Bet Championship and they will be missing three first team players, the club's official website has confirmed.

Manager Steve Bruce confirmed in his pre-match press conference that John Terry could return to action but striker Jonathan Kodjia and defenders Alan Hutton and Axel Tuanzebe will not be available for selection this weekend.

Bruce is set to make a late decision on Terry after the captain returned to full training two days ago.

The former Chelsea man missed the last two games against Leeds United and Cardiff City as he was nursing an ankle injury but he has taken part in two training sessions and could return for tomorrow's game against Ipswich.

Bruce, however, is not willing to risk him if he is not 100 per cent fit as a precaution ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

Elsewhere, Hutton is set to return to training on Monday but will not return in time to face Ipswich while Tuanzebe is still out with a hamstring injury.

The on-loan Manchester United defender is likely to miss the remaining three games but return in time for the play-offs.

Kodjia will also miss out as a precaution as he continues to recover from a long term injury.

The Verdict

Aston Villa do not need to risk Terry this weekend as they can continue with Mile Jedinak alongside James Chester at the back until him and Tuanzebe return. The worst thing that the Villains can do is to rush their captain back and have him worsen his injury ahead of the play-offs. With Christopher Samba also on the bench, there is no need to thrust Terry straight into the action if there are still some concerns over his ankle injury.

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