Aston Villa duo Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah won’t be rushed back

The influential duo have not featured since picking up injuries in the Second City Derby win over Blues earlier this month.

Villa have struggled in their absence, picking up just one point and scoring only one goal from games against Fulham and Preston, falling out of the Championship’s top two in the process.

But Bruce is unwilling to risk bringing either man back too soon, for fear of losing them for an extended period during the run-in.

Adomah is struggling with a hamstring injury - the first of his professional career - while Grealish has a calf problem.

“The fear for us is that if we play them, they come back too early and they are out for six or eight weeks and miss the tickly bit of the season,” he said.

“We saw a bit of that on Tuesday night against Preston, where the crowd were nervous and anxious because we haven’t played well. But that is what the Championship is, sometimes you have to grind out a result.”

It has meanwhile emerged the Villa Park pitch will be relaid in the summer, with the ageing surface beginning to show wear.

The state of the pitch was referenced by boss Bruce after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Preston, with the manager claiming it had hindered his team.

Villa are understood to have purchased extra heaters last month in a bid to prevent further deterioration but the surface is due to be fully replaced at the end of the campaign.

“The pitch here has always been immaculate but unfortunately it’s difficult at the minute,” said the boss.

“It’s not how we’ve been used to it. It’s difficult and bobbly. It’s bare in places.”