This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Saturday as their Carabao Cup third-round tie with Brighton & Hove Albion gets a repeat just a month later, but this time at Villa Park and against a potentially stronger XI.
One player who scored in the 3-1 victory last month was Jota as Graham Potter named a youthful-looking lineup, but this time around, he is set to be the only major absentee from Dean Smith’s squad.
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Earlier in the week, the 28-year-old’s wife revealed that he has undergone surgery after playing on a double hernia in his groin for the best part of a year, and Jota himself then confirmed this in a similar social media post as he claimed he was looking forward to his recovery.
This news comes at potentially the worst possible time, although it does explain his absence in recent matches as he hasn’t even come off the bench in three straight games, per Transfermarkt.
Last time out, Smith’s men thrashed Norwich City 5-1 on their own patch as the 48-year-old’s move to play Jack Grealish further forward is really starting to pay off.
Aston Villa’s summer signings’ performances so far this season are rated in the video below…
As a result, Anwar El Ghazi has switched over to the right flank, where he’s proving to be one of Villa’s most dangerous assets, as displayed in this Football FanCast article this week.
Even Trezeguet has looked slightly better over the past month or so, picking up his first assist of the season in the 2-2 draw with Burnley.
Now Jota faces considerable time on the sideline, his stature amongst the squad will only decrease if Grealish and co keep up this rich vein of form.
Usually, a hernia operation will set you back a good month or so, and that’s more than enough time for the players mentioned above to cement their names as the first on Smith’s teamsheet.
It is ultimately an unfortunate set of circumstances for the Spaniard as this was a much-needed course of action – he can only hope that he is given an opportunity later down the line.
