Dean Smith backs Jonathan Kodjia to hit the goal trail for Aston Villa
Villa boss Dean Smith has backed Jonathan Kodjia to rediscover his scoring touch and told the misfiring striker: “The goals will come”.
Kodjia has scored just once in 13 appearances dating back to August and suffered a frustrating afternoon in Villa’s recent 3-0 win at Derby, when he failed to convert numerous chances.
The 29-year-old, who missed most of last season after twice breaking his ankle, has struggled to recapture the form which saw him plunder 19 goals during the 2016/17 campaign, having joined Villa in a £15million move from Bristol City.
But Smith has been encouraged by Kodjia’s all-round game and believes it is only a matter of time before the goals start to flow.
“I have always said if you have forward-thinking players and they are not getting chances, that is when you need to worry,” said the boss.“We have players who will score. Kodjia has scored a lot of goals in this league before, for Bristol City and Villa. He will continue to score. The hardest part is getting those chances. They (the goals) will certainly come.”
With four goals this term, Kodjia is still Villa’s second top scorer this term, having notched one fewer than on loan Chelsea star Tammy Abraham.
Smith continued: “Tammy also missed a lot of chances at Derby and over the last four games but he got his goal, which he deserved.”
Meanwhile, Villa fans have snapped up their 2,622-strong allocation for the short trip to The Hawthorns on Friday, December 7. Albion are expecting the match to be a sell-out with more than 24,000 tickets already sold for the clash, which is being screened live on Sky Sports.
