Dean Smith will call on £27million duo to fill the void should Aston Villa lose Tammy Abraham

The 21-year-old, who has scored 16 goals in 20 appearances on loan from Chelsea, is considering whether to remain at Villa Park for the rest of the season or join Wolves.

Boss Smith is hopeful Abraham will opt to stay, but believes in Kodjia and Hogan he already has ready-made replacements.

The duo, who Villa signed in deals worth a combined £27million, have seen their opportunities limited this season due to Abraham’s electric form.

Kodjia is the club’s second top scorer with six goals despite playing mainly on the wing. Hogan, who Smith sold for £12million in January 2017 while Brentford boss, is yet to open his account after missing the start of the campaign through injury.

Asked on his contingency plan should Abraham leave, Smith replied: “We already have our contingency plan in the building.

“I have got a player who has already scored 20 goals as No.9 in this league in Jonathan Kodjia.

“I also have a player I worked closely with at Brentford (Hogan), who scored 15 goals before Christmas in this league.

“Unfortunately they have not had the chance because we have a player who has scored 16 in 20 games.”

Abraham could leave due to a recall clause in his season-long loan agreement, which must be triggered by January 14.

Smith, who replaced Steve Bruce as Villa boss in October, said: “It’s something we have inherited. We will look in the future that if we take a loan deal there has to be an option to possibly sign the player. Otherwise you are developing players for other teams. You want to be bringing in your own players, who you can build a squad for over the next few years.”