Jonathan Kodjia set to resume training at Aston Villa

Kodjia is set to resume training with Villa’s first-team squad, four months after undergoing ankle surgery for the second time in the space of a year.

The 28-year-old – who finished as the club’s top scorer last term with 19 goals - missed the start of the season after recovering from a break sustained in a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers last April.

After scoring once in eight appearances, he then suffered another fracture to the same ankle while away on international duty with the Ivory Coast in early November.

That Villa have sustained a challenge at the top of the Championship without their main source of goals last season is one of the more impressive aspects of their campaign.

Bruce is delighted to have Kodjia, who has been undergoing rehab in France, back at Bodymoor Heath.

But he admits his chances of playing a part in the Championship run-in remain remote.

“He’s here, he’s back amongst us,” said Bruce. “We’re hoping that he can resume training on Monday. Whether he can take any real part in the season I would doubt. But then again, we’ll see how he is in the next few weeks.

The boss added: “He’s been out a year - we’ve got three games this week and he won’t be involved, then we’ve got the international break for two weeks.

“It’s going to be a big ask but we’ll see. I wouldn’t anticipate it, I really wouldn’t, after he’s been out for nearly a year with a recurrence - but you never know.”

Kodjia has been far from the only star to be struck down by Villa’s injury curse this season.

Jack Grealish, John Terry and Mile Jedinak have all spent extended spells on the sidelines and Bruce is now set to be without Glenn Whelan for several weeks, after the midfielder suffered a calf injury in Tuesday’s 3-0 win at Sunderland.

Bruce said: “Glenn might not be everyone’s cup of tea but his experience and know-how at this level is crucial for us and I thought he was our best player against Sunderland until he came off.

“He’s been instrumental for us and he’s a popular man amongst the players and staff here. He’s a big loss and it’ll be a few weeks.

“But we’ve managed to cope without our big players all season. Let’s hope we can again.”

Alan Hutton and Axel Tuanzebe have both been ruled out of today’s derby against Wolves with hamstring injuries sustained last month.

“When I talk about the endurance of a Championship season, this is a prime example,” added Bruce. “Fit players like them are picking up little injuries.”