In a recent report, Birmingham Mail has revealed that Aston Villa winger Bertrand Traore has picked up a shoulder injury after colliding with the advertising board in the 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park last Friday. It is understood that the Villans winger has now joined Jack Grealish, Kortney Hause and Wesley Moraes on the treatment table, which could derail Dean Smith’s Top Four hopes in the Premier League this season (via Birmingham Mail).
Traore’s Solid Debut Season In English Football
Traore is enjoying a decent season at Villa Park after putting in a handful of eye-catching displays on the left side of the Aston Villa attack. The 25-year-old has participated in 27 matches for the West Midlands outfit this term, netting six goals and providing three assists in all competitions.
The former Chelsea youngster has done well to average 0.7 tackles, 1.5 shots, 0.7 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Traore has even distributed the ball relatively well when interchanging possession with his teammates as he has completed 79.7% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Traore’s form this season has been a bit up and down, but he has scored and set-up some important goals for his team. Not having him available in the coming weeks could be a huge blow for the Villans, so Smith will be hoping for his speedy recovery ahead of the business end of this campaign.
What Does The Burkina Faso International Bring To The Table?
Traore is blessed with decent pace and can make some penetrative dashes out on the wide areas. He possesses excellent ball control and can breeze past his marker using his quickness and agility in the opposition half.
The 55-time Burkina Faso international can create plays for others around him and can also contribute by netting some crucial goals up top. However, he needs to be more clinical in the final third if he wants to break into the world-class bracket someday.
Can Smith Cope With Traore’s Injury Absence?
If Traore ends up missing a few matches, then the Villans will have to rely on Trezeguet to deliver some productive displays in the Premier League. With a few tough matches coming up against Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Liverpool and Man City in the Premier League, the West Midlands club will find it difficult to cope without Traore. However, Smith has a strong squad, so he would hope that some of his other first-team stars can step up and give a good account of himself in the remainder of this campaign.
