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Scott Hogan may have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench against former side Brentford after boss Steve Bruce confirmed Keinan Davis would keep his starting place.

The £12million man signed in January and is fired up for tomorrow’s clash with his old club after bagging three goals in the Carabao Cup last month.

Hogan could still be paired alongside Davis as Villa look to extend their unbeaten run to four games but Bruce hinted that he was happy with the forward options he went with in the previous two encounters.

“We now have the emergence of young Keinan, who from nowhere has come and will lead the line tomorrow,” Bruce said.

“How can I leave him out after two performances like that?

“A young one has come and thrown down the gauntlet.”

But what about Hogan who is desperate to get out there and do the business against the club he left earlier in the year?

“Of course (playing against his old club) comes into my thinking,” Bruce added.

“What also comes into my thinking is how well the team have played.

“I was particularly pleased with the Norwich and Bristol City games.

“It was the first time in nearly two years we have gone behind away from home and got a point.

“That is what I get paid for, to make those decisions.”

Villa are expected to set up with Conor Hourihane and Josh Onomah behind Davis with Andre Green on the left and either Robert Snodgrass or Ahmed Elmohamady on the right.

Hogan will definitely be in the squad, though.

“He is in the best form since he has been at the club,” added Bruce.