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Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce is likely to seek January reinforcements in a bid to cope with the inevitable African Cup of Nations departures.

Bruce is likely to be without key men Jonathan Kodjia, Jordan Ayew and Albert Adomah for over a month as they jet off to Gabon in January.

Summer signing Ross McCormack is likely to be Bruce’s first port of call to replace Kodjia, who has scored five times in as many appearances since the former Hull City man grasped the managerial reigns.

Gabby Agbonlahor has been revitalised under Bruce and is firmly back in the first team picture, while talented youngster Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is progressing rapidly.

But owner Dr Tony Xia has already shown that money is there if needed and Bruce is expected to be backed heavily, as Roberto Di Matteo was in the summer.

A man that Steve Bruce has always been keen on, according to the Daily Star, is Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes.

(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Rhodes has been prolific at Championship level with Blackburn Rovers and scored some vital goals as Middlesbrough secured promotion to the Premier League last season.

Bruce is very close to Boro assistant manager Steve Agnew, who used to be his own deputy at Hull. Agnew is Rhodes’ uncle.

The striker has fallen down the pecking order at Boro this season following the summer acquisition of Alvaro Negredo and is expected to depart in the transfer window.

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