Goals have not been Aston Villa’s strong point so far this campaign.
As it stands, they have scored just 34 times, which is far from the best return from 27 matches. They have had their troubles up front – Wesley’s injury in January, which will keep him out until the end of the season, did not come at the best time – but still, they would expected far more given they spent well over £100m during the summer transfer window.
Mbwana Samatta, who joined from Genk at the start of year, has shown promise with two goals in five matches, but it is unfair to expect him to fire them to safety on their own considering he has just joined the club. Dean Smith, though, let one striker go out on loan who is now going through a hot-streak.
Scott Hogan, who was signed by the Villans in 2017 for £12m by Steve Bruce, was allowed to leave temporarily for Birmingham City, Villa’s fierce city rivals, in January.
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It hasn’t really gone his way to date at Villa Park – he managed just 10 goals in 61 matches before going out on this latest spell – with him failing to recreate the scoring form that saw him bag 21 times in 36 matches for Brentford.
Now with the Bluenoses, though, he appears to be refinding his feet and is surely showing Smith exactly what he is missing. In just eight matches, he has managed seven goals, whilst he has also managed one assist as well. That is a record that the Premier League side could only dream of right now.
It just goes to show what a change of scenery could do for a player. Whether Hogan has any kind of future at Villa remains to be seen – should they stay in the top flight, they may very well look to bring in a new forward to fire them up the table and away from the battle at the bottom – but the 27-year-old is at least making Smith question his January decision.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa are handed in a blow in their pursuit of this midfielder.