Chelsea loanee Drinkwater warned to shape up or face the chop by Aston Villa boss Smith
DANNY DRINKWATER is being warned to shape up to avoid the hook by Aston Villa boss Dean Smith.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder, 29, was subbed early in all four games — averaging 65 minutes on the pitch.
He could be axed for today’s trip to Southampton, with Marvelous Nakamba ready to replace him alongside Douglas Luiz.
Smith said: “His fitness is OK, he’s working really hard and he’s getting to where we want him to be.
“The only way you can work on your fitness is by working hard in training, which he does, and play matches.
“He’s come in and his passing completion stats last week was 91 per cent.
“Danny also probably made the most forward passes in a game as well, so he was a big part of our build-up.
“Where he’s working to get better is without the ball.
“That takes time when you haven’t played an awful lot of games this season.”
Smith admits it is a tight call which pair get the nod out of his midfield trio.
The Villa chief added: “We know what Danny can do passing the ball forwards and we probably missed a bit of that.
“But now it’s down to the other lads.
“If they do replace him, it’s down to them to keep the shirt off him.”
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Saints’ home record is the worst in the Premier League, with EIGHT defeats from 13. Smith wants to heap more St Mary’s misery on them.
Villa, hovering just a point above the drop zone, will go within three points of Saints if they win.
The Villa chief said: “Their head coach has admitted it’s been tough for them to play at home.
“There’s been an awful lot of pressure on them.
“In the first 15 minutes, there’s an expectation on them and the players have not handled that as well as they could have.
“We have to make sure we put that pressure on Southampton and their supporters to try to get them against their team and take advantage.”
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Villa welcome back centre-back Tyrone Mings following tonsillitis and he is expected to replace last week’s fall guy against Tottenham, Bjorn Engels.
The Belgian defender, 25, was distraught after his clanger allowed Son Heung-min to score a last-gasp winner for Spurs.
Smith said: “We could all see how the group got around him. We were all disappointed for him — nobody wants to see a mistake happen.
“The players told him it’s a team game and you win and lose together.
“There’s been no repercussions about Bjorn making a mistake — that just happens.”
Smith is delighted to have Mings back, however.
He said: “It’s been unfortunate. He’s been a big player for us so to miss him on Sunday was difficult.
“But Tyrone will be back and ready for the Southampton trip.
“He’s got the qualities to be a real leader and he’s still growing into that role.”