Konsa returns from injury but may be dropped for Carlos

Ezri Konsa has been sidelined with a knee injury since May and was expected to miss the start of next season, but Steven Gerrard has given a positive update on the 24-year-old, revealing he’s recovered two months early and will be available for selection for their upcoming pre-season friendly.

Gerrard said via Birmingham Live: “He’s back. The rehab’s done. He trained fully with the team (Saturday) for the first time. He’ll continue to train and prepare and he’ll be available for selection against Brisbane Roar.” Konsa could play on Wednesday, but will he start Villa’s opening game in the Premier League?

The 24-year-old was on the cusp of an England callup after making 37 appearances across the board in 2020/21, but he’s since struggled for consistency and may have been replaced by Gerrard.

Villa signed Diego Carlos for £26m from Sevilla this summer – a 29-year-old centre-back who won’t have been bought to sit on the bench – so the new arrival might be preferred over Konsa to start alongside Tyrone Mings next season.

Gerrard is overstocked with defenders (Mings, Carlos, Konsa, Callum Chambers, Kortney Hause), so there’s stiff competition to maintain a starting place. Konsa has missed two of Villa’s pre-season friendlies due to injury, so he’s only got a few games left to improve his match fitness before the upcoming campaign begins.

In other news, Jaden Philogene-Bidace misses Aston Villa friendly and has uncertain future