The week in claret and blue

Wake up at the back.

The seven days of tedium known as international week kicks off with the not entirely unexpected news that Ezri Konsa has pulled out of the England squad with a hamstring injury. It makes a change to have one of our players injured before he gets there rather than in some pointless friendly but it’s still a pain. He’ll be out for a couple of weeks, according to reports. That’s the Villa ‘couple’ as in “Just off for a couple of pints dear. Don’t wait up.”

If you’re interested England lost at home to Greece with Ollie coming on in the Duran role after an hour and won 3-1 away to Finland when he did the same thing. Pau Torres was on the bench for Spain, who beat Denmark. Please all come back in one piece, or is that asking too much?

The road to Wembley continued in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy with a hard-fought 1-1 draw away against Bolton, at whatever their ground’s called this week, and we won the penalties 4-2 to get a bonus point. It might not be that much to shout about but despite Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara not playing, six of the squad were sixteen and only keeper Oliwier Zych wasn’t a teenager. Doesn’t it make you feel old? Small Heath won 4-0 at Shrewsbury and took approx. a quarter of a million, proof positive of their impending world domination. Once the Estadio del Contaminacion is up and running there’ll be no stopping them.

The injury returnees plus a few others took part in a behind closed doors friendly at Bodymoor against Sheffield Wednesday, whose website said we won 2-1. Villa didn’t acknowledge that the match took place so no idea what happened but it’s a fair bet that Jhon Duran came on with half an hour to go.

Zych saved two penalties at Bolton which brings us to Jed Steer, who played for Peterborough against Rotherham on Saturday. On the bench for Peterborough was Ashley Young’s lad Tyler. You’re feeling old again, aren’t you?

Bologna tickets are still on sale and Chris Heck hasn’t turned into Santa Claus so you’ll still have to take out a bank loan to afford one. Get there early; it’s your own fault if you miss the kick-off, or haven’t got a seat.

Away from what’s happening on the pitch Atairos have bought more shares in the Villa, which means they now own 31% of V Sports. They’re specialists in stadium development, we’re not moving to a new stadium, oh no, definitely not. Work that one out. Not that there’s any reason to doubt the infallibility of Messrs Edens and Sawiris, but I do wish they’d tell us what they’re up to.

Manchester City reckon they’ve won their case against the Premier League, the Premier League reckon they’ve won their case against Manchester City. In the immortal words of Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes, “God damn you all to hell!!!”

And the women’s team draw 0-0 at home to Leicester, who haven’t won a match this season either.