Steven Gerrard provides brilliant Ezri Konsa injury update as Aston Villa omissions explained

Steven Gerrard has confirmed that Ezri Konsa is back two months ahead of schedule and will be available for selection against Brisbane Roar on Wednesday. The centre-back has been out since May with a severe knee injury but, after initially being given a 16-week diagnosis, is fit to make his return in Australia.

"He's back," Gerrard said of his centre-back. "The rehab's done. He trained fully with the team yesterday (Saturday) for the first time. He'll continue to train and prepare and he'll be available for selection against Brisbane Roar in the middle of the week."

Villa beat Leeds 1-0 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane earlier thanks to a second-half penalty courtesy of Danny Ings. Gerrard made nine changes at half-time with Robin Olsen and Calum Chambers playing both halves. However, as many as eight players were missing from Villa's squad list with Emi Martinez, Bertrand Traore, Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Kaine Kesler Hayden, Ben Chrisene, Keinan Davis and new signing Ludwig Augustinsson all not involved. Young stopper Oliwier Zych wasn't needed, either.

On those omissions, Gerrard says it's down to shuffling his pack ahead of Wednesday's clash against Brisbane Roar in Townsville but did concede that winger Philogene-Bidace has picked up an injury. The head coach also revealed that assistant head coach Neil Critchley hasn't travelled to Australia due to a passport issue.

"We'll make some changes to Wednesday and we'll give some opportunities to a few," Gerrard said. "We'll change it up slightly. It's another important game for us.

"Jaden's got a knock at the moment. He hasn't trained for the last two days. The rest are all healthy and they'll come into the thinking for Wednesday against Brisbane Roar.

"We've got a big