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Aston Villa striker Wesley edging closer to recovery after 14-month lay-off

Villa striker Wesley is edging closer to a return from the injury which has kept him out for nearly 14 months.

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The 24-year-old has resumed non-contact drills as he enters the final stages of his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Wesley has not played since suffering serious damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Villa’s 2-1 win at Burnley on New Year’s Day, 2020.

The Brazilian has since watched from the sidelines as Dean Smith’s team avoided relegation on the final day of last season and spent this term fighting in the top half of the Premier League table.

Wesley was Villa’s record buy when he joined in a £21million deal from Club Brugge in 2019, scoring five goals in 21 appearances before suffering his injury.

He is now hungry to get back involved and give boss Smith an extra attacking option alongside Ollie Watkins.

The latter has played every single minute of Villa’s Premier League season so far, with Keinan Davis as the club’s only recognised back-up striker.

Villa return to action when they visit Leeds on Saturday evening, aiming to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Leicester.

Captain Jack Grealish is again expected to be miss out with a shin injury, while Ahmed Elmohamady will again deputise at right-back for Matty Cash, who is expected to be out for at least another fortnight with a hamstring strain.

Leeds, who sit just a point behind eighth-placed Villa in the table following Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Southampton, have injury troubles of their own after midfielder Mateusz Klich was forced off during the match.

Villa’s trip to Newcastle next month has been scheduled for Friday, March 12, with an 8pm kick-off. It will be broadcast live on BT Sport.