Aston Villa: Dan Bardell reacts as Diego Carlos injury development emerges at Villa Park
Diego Carlos returning from injury could provide Aston Villa with a boost heading into the final couple of months of the season, according to Dan Bardell.
The 30-year-old, who has been plagued with injuries during his time at Villa Park, missed three games recently with a hamstring issue he suffered in training.
But after being an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw against Ajax on 7 March, the Brazilian centre-back made his return to action when he came off the bench in the 4-0 defeat against Tottenham on 10 March.
Bardell believes it’s good to have Carlos available again as he is, alongside Tyrone Mings, more physical than some of the other central defenders Unai Emery has at his disposal and offers something different.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “It’s just about getting bodies back anywhere, anyone coming back is welcome.
“Unfortunately, they all seem to be getting injured at the same time and then they come back at the same time as well.
“It’s good to have him back because he’s a different type of centre-back in terms of strength and dominance. If you look at the centre-backs on Villa’s books, Mings and Carlos are the two that are more physical specimens.
“He’s another one who’s had injuries throughout his whole time at Villa, but this one doesn’t seem to have been too bad.
“Villa’s two best wins of the season against Man City and Arsenal at home, where they kept two clean sheets, Carlos was in the back four for those.
“It’s good to get people back and, hopefully, we’ll be a bit stronger in the run-in. We haven’t kept a lot of clean sheets recently, but I think it’s because the personnel has had to change so often.”
Diego Carlos could return to Aston Villa starting lineup
It’s a boost for Emery to have four centre-backs available again as there is a huge couple of months that lie ahead for Villa in their bid for Champions League football.
As Bardell points out, some of their best performances this season came with Carlos in the side, so there is a chance the Villans boss could throw him back into the starting lineup before too long.
After the Brazilian built up a decent partnership with Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres before Christmas, Clement Lenglet is likely to be the man who could make way if he is to be handed a start in the coming weeks.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has mooted a high-profile exit after a £110million+ development has emerged.
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