Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says that on-loan Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley will be fit for the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The 27-year-old has been out of action since late November with a hamstring problem picked up in their home defeat against Brighton.
After avoiding relegation on the last day of the 2019/20 season, Villa have made a good start to the new Premier League season and sit ninth in the table, with a number of games in hand.
Smith's side have lost just two of their last six games, with wins against Arsenal, Wolves and West Brom.
And they look likely to be welcoming Ross Barkley back into the squad for the visit of Roy Hodgson's side on Saturday.
"We didn’t want to take a risk in the colder weather tonight [against West Brom]," Smith explained when asked why Barkley had not been among the players in the local derby win.
"It’s one of those injuries. He’ll be fit for Crystal Palace."
Smith is also hoping to be able to call upon centre-back Ezri Konsa for the clash, who missed the games against Burnley and West Brom due to illness.
"Ezri's still ill," Smith said after the West Brom clash. "If anyone has a slight illness, we all worry. He should be fine for Crystal Palace."
Kortney Hause has deputised well, for Konsa, with Villa keeping back-to-back clean sheets.
