The video will start in 8 Cancel

Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jonathan Kodjia has suffered an injury setback and will be back later than expected, boss Steve Bruce has confirmed.

The 27-year-old was Villa’s top goalscorer last season but he hasn’t played a competitive game since breaking his ankle in April.

Bruce thought the striker would be close to returning to fitness by the end of August but he’s now facing another month on the sidelines.

“We hope he will be back in the next three or four weeks,” Bruce said.

“We thought he would be back before now, it is fair to say he had a setback.

“At the end of the day he has a fracture.

“We have to be patient and wait for that fracture to heal.

“He has got two or three pins in the fracture too.

“We thought he would be back by now but he is still a few weeks away.”

Bruce is still looking for a loan signing to help cover Villa up top as Scott Hogan’s fitness issues are a concern and Gabby Agbonlahor is also out with a short-term back problem.

“If we can do something in the market, it is the top end of the pitch where there is a concern,” Bruce added.

“It’s been a disappointing time for Scotty because four or five times now he has had to come off injured.

“It is fair to say he has not really got started with one thing and another.

“Let’s hope his ankle is not so bad and he gets a run injury-free.

“It is a concern going forward.”

One bonus for Bruce is Keinan Davis’ sudden emergence onto the first-team scene.

The 19-year-old had a stunning full debut in the 4-2 win over Norwich City but the manager knows he can’t pin all his hopes on the teenager.