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Steve Bruce urges patience over Aston Villa star Jonathan Kodjia

Villa boss Steve Bruce has warned it could be December until Jonathan Kodjia is back to his best.

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The 27-year-old has recently returned to action after more than four months out with a broken ankle, bagging his first goal of the campaign in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Bolton.

Kodjia was Villa’s stand-out performer last season, scoring 19 goals following a £15million move from Bristol City.

His return has coincided with a four-game winning streak for Bruce’s team but the boss believes it could still take time before the Ivory Coast international is firing on all cylinders.

“It is going to take time and confidence. He has had a nasty injury,” said Bruce. “I always think that however long you are out, it takes you that long again to get back to where you should be.

“I don’t think we will see the best of Jimmy until November, December time. I do believe, having watched people, you don’t get back to those levels, until you have been back for the same time as you were out.”

Kodjia was integral to any success Villa experienced on the pitch last season and Bruce has long acknowledged his team were too reliant on the Ivory Coast international for goals.

But the boss reckons believes the arrival of Robert Snodgrass on loan from West Ham, along with the improved form of other attacking players, leaves him better placed to manage Kodjia’s return.

Albert Adomah and Conor Hourihane are Villa’s joint top scorers so far this season with five goals each.

“Without Kodjia’s goals last year, we would have been in a sad place,” said Bruce. “I think there are more goals in the team now. We can’t keep relying on Kodjia.

“If he didn’t score last season, we didn’t. That’s pretty straightforward stuff. Make no mistake, we will look after him.””

Meanwhile, Villa’s trip to Preston on Wednesday, November 1 will be screened live on Sky Sports, it was announced yesterday. It remains a 7.45pm kick-off.