Aston Villa manager Dean Smith will be deep in planning for the biggest match of his career, when he leads out his side against Derby County in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday.

As Smith and his staff make decisions on who to play for this crucial fixture, one player who is watching from the sidelines is 30-year-old centre-back James Chester, who has struggled with a knee injury since January and without the playing time or training under his belt, is unlikely to be given a chance.

So could these be the final few weeks at Aston Villa for outcast Chester?

We discuss........

Gary Hutchinson

“They could be, but it would surprise me.

“He’s been outcast courtesy of loan players coming in, but the summer is a clean slate.

“He’s struggled with injuries, other players have hit form, but the break gives him chance to bounce back.

“There’s every possibility he could establish himself once more.”

Alfie Burns

“It all depends of promotion really.

“If Villa go up, you feel it might be Mings, Hause and Tuanzebe as Dean Smith’s centre-back options.

“However, if it is Championship football again, Villa might be forced to bring Chester back into the fold.

“Having said that, it is no bad thing, he’s a good Championship defender.”

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Toby Wilding

"Not necessarily.

"If Villa fail to go up it is hard to see them bringing back their on loan defensive of Tyrone Mings; Axel Tuanzebe and Kortney Hause to the Championship, and that could send Chester back up the pecking order.

"If they do reach the Premier League however then they could bring them back or others in, and then Chester may need to consider looking elsewhere, since he is too good to spend the rest of his career on the bench."

Louie Chandler

"It really depends.

"If Villa are promoted at Wembley next Monday and they are able to secure the likes of Mings and Tuanzebe for another season then yes, almost definitely.

"But if they are in the Championship, keeping those two will prove difficult so Chester may be needed yet."