Aston Villa's Albert Adomah a doubt for Middlesbrough return

The winger, who has scored 12 goals this season, became the latest name added to lengthy injury list when he suffered a dead leg early in Villa’s 2-1 Boxing Day defeat at Brentford.

Bruce admitted the persistent injuries suffered by his squad has been a factor in their sudden downturn over recent weeks. “I never want to make excuses but obviously we keep chopping and changing. We have lost key individual players,” he said.

“You hope it won’t derail you. I know people think it is just an excuse but we are without our best players.

“When you need them to go and help you out the mire, they are not there.”

Villa’s slide means Bruce is now coming under increasing criticism from sections of the club’s fanbase.

“I will take all the criticism coming my way. I have been criticised all my life and that is not going to change,” he said. “I’m determined we will pull through it and get back to where we were a couple of weeks ago.”