The injury issues facing Aston Villa ahead of Southampton clash amid go-ahead

Aston Villa are back in action on Friday night after being given the go-ahead by the Premier League.

Steven Gerrard’s men sat out last weekend as part of the Premier League-wide postonements on the back of the Queen’s death.

There was uncertainty over whether this weekend’s fixtures would go ahead, with the Queen’s funeral taking place on Monday.

And three games have been postponed due to police shortages and organisational issues.

But Villa’s clash with Southampton on Friday will go ahead as planned, and that will be a relief for Gerrard.

This is the final round of fixtures before the international break, and Villa will be desperate to make a closing statement before the break having started the season poorly.

But Gerrard won’t be helped by a number of absences ahead of the home clash with the Saints.

Diego Carlos remains out long-term, and he will of course miss this one.

Concerningly, the player brought in to deputise for Diego Carlos, Jan Bednarek, will miss this one due to Southampton being his parent club.

Meanwhile, Matty Cash has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, set to be sidelined until after the international break.

Those are troubling injuries for Gerrard, with three defenders all missing out.

Villa are not likely to be able to rely upon new signing Leander Dendoncker from the start, either, with the midfielder having not played for a number of weeks.

He has recently overcome a bout of tronsilitus, and it’s likely Dendoncker will start on the bench as he goes through the process of increasing match fitness.

Villa should be able to get by just fine in midfield, while Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digna will likely start at the back, with Ashley Young potentially deputising at left-back.

Southampton have picked up seven points from their first six games, three more than Villa.