Dean Smith: Tommy Elphick will bolster Aston Villa defence
Dean Smith believes the return of Tommy Elphick will boost Villa after recalling the defender from Hull.
Elphick had been on loan at Villa’s Championship rivals since August, after being allowed to leave by former boss Steve Bruce.
But Smith, who has seen his already thin defensive ranks depleted by injury, has taken the option to bring him back.
The 31-year-old will be eligible to play in Villa’s home game with QPR on New Year’s Day.
Smith said: “It will be nice to have him back and we have exercised the option to bring him back. It will bolster us defensively.
“We have three right-backs playing in the back four at the moment. Chessie (skipper James Chester) has had a grumbling knee for a while and has been soldiering on. Our only fit centre-back has been playing for Hull City.”
Villa have lost on loan Manchester United ace Axel Tuanzebe to a foot injury, while left-back Neil Taylor is missing with a hamstring problem.
“It will be good to have Tommy back,” continued Smith. “He has done really well at Hull and is certainly one I kept me eye on when he has been there.
“But I was not going to interrupt anything because there was nothing I could do about him being there. It will be a boost for us having another defender back.”
