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Dean Smith will consider recalling Tommy Elphick from his loan spell at Hull City next month and is also targeting a move for Brentford centre-back Yoann Barbet.

The Villa boss admitted that the rearguard needs to be strengthened next month after Villa shipped more goals in the 3-2 defeat to Leeds United.

Smith cursed the way his side defended in the second half as goals from Jack Clarke, Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe turned the game on its head despite early strikes from Tammy Abraham and Conor Hourihane.

And when asked about a possible return for Elphick next month, Smith said:

“Yes it’s a possibility, but he’s playing football until January, so I won’t say anything on that until then.”

(Image: Richard Burley)

BirminghamLive understands that the conversation has already been had with Elphick and a January return is on the cards.

Villa are also keen on Barbet, the 25-year-old French defender who Smith managed at Brentford.

Lovre Kalinic was signed from Gent last week to strengthen the goalkeeping department and Smith now wants to bolster his backline after seeing Axel Tuanzebe ruled out for ‘several weeks’ with a foot injury.

“We always knew that we were light in the defensive area.

“Unfortunately Axel has got injured, so we put James Bree in at centre-half today.

“He’s played 30-odd games at Championship level, so we’ve got enough defenders.

“But we also know that it’s something in January that we want to deal with.

“We’re starting to get players back but defensively we lack a bit of cover at the moment.”

Smith was disappointed with the way his side defended in the second half as they crumbled under pressure from Leeds.

Ahmed Elmohamady was at fault for the two of the goals, while Villa allowed Jansson an unchallenged header for the equalising goal.

“Going 2-0 up, you expect to see it out, especially at Villa Park,” said Smith.

“We got punished for our defensive lapses again.

“We don’t get any contact on the first goal.

“And the second goal we get no contact on Jansson for the header.

“I’m not going to make any excuses.

“The team we put out there can defend.

“It’s not individuals, it’s a collective, how you go and defend in a game,

“There’s three or four players who have been involved in their goals today.

“That’s just a collective.

“It’s reared its ugly head today.”