Steve Bruce names Wembley starting XI as he looks to rein in Aston Villa ahead of play-off final
Steve Bruce reckons Villa’s players are champing at the bit for Saturday’s play-off final – after revealing he was forced cut short a training session when it became too feisty.
The boss has now taken the unusual step of informing his players of the XI which will take on Fulham for a place in the Premier League, three days before the Wembley showdown.
Ahmed Elmohamady is the only question mark, with the Egyptian international battling to recover from a hamstring injury.
Bruce believes there has been an added ‘crackle’ around Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground in the build-up to the big game, to the extent he had to cut short Tuesday’s training session.
“They were champing at the bit – too early. It got a bit feisty to say the least,” said the boss. “So it has all the makings of a big game round the corner.
“It’s not a bad sign. I’m not against it at all. It’s normal. We just stepped in and cut it a little short... shall we put it that way. And I hadn’t even revealed the team then!
“No, it’s normal. The big occasion is round the corner and everybody’s champing at the bit.
“It’s so normal. It’s the difference. Whatever it is, there’s a crackle around the place and that’s part and parcel of being part of a big game.”
Bruce typically picks his team the day before a match but informed his players of the starting XI after Tuesday’s session.
He explained: “Usually in the past, if you’re preparing for a big game and you know the team on a Tuesday – if I wasn’t in it then on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I’d have a face like a slapped a***.
“But I think for preparation in a one-off, it was important for our team.
“The substitutes can be match-winners too and I think the players have understood that.
“That’s why we’ve done it.”
Elmohamady is looking to shake-off a hamstring injury sustained in the first-leg of Villa’s play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough.
The 30-year-old, who was part of the Hull team which won promotion through the play-offs with Bruce two years ago, trained yesterday but will be carefully assessed.
James Bree, who performed commendably at right-back in the second leg of Villa’s semi-final tie, is again poised to deputise.
“We’ll give Elmo every chance and give him another thorough workout on Friday,” said Bruce.
“The one thing, going into a play-off final at Wembley, if you’re not 100 per-cent, it’s a big sapping pitch. He’s got a chance.”
