Engels, where are you?

The curious case of Bjorn Engels -  Aston Villa's  centre-half who's gone on the missing list.

The big Belgian began the new season as one of the first names on Dean Smith's team sheet - but now he's nowhere near it.

Engels, 25, made consecutive start after consecutive start alongside Tyrone Mings prior to being struck down with a bout of illness before Watford on December 28.

The centre-back last featured in the Premier League in Villa's 3-1 defeat by Southampton on December 21, when Shane Long made the summer signing appear to be running through treacle after the Irishman raced away before Danny Ings' devastating opener.

Engels, meanwhile, returned to the fold for Fulham in the FA Cup to partner skipper James Chester at centre-back which was, in fact, the last time Smith played a flat back four.

Ivan Cavaleiro of Fulham battles for possession with Bjorn Engels of Aston Villa

Since then, the head coach has gone with his now-favoured 3-4-3 formation and has been full of praise for his back three of Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause.

Smith, a former centre-back himself, likes a regimented back line and appears to have an OCD outlook on how he wants his defence to line up: a right-footer playing on the right-hand side and vice-versa with a left-footer.

His back three have performed admirably since Burnley on New Year's Day, with the only exception being that 6-1 hammering to Manchester City.

Smith sees Mings as the colossal leader picked to marshal the defence from the middle, with "outside centre-backs" Konsa and Hause tasked with being more adventurous, driving forwards while feeding the likes of Jack Grealish and Villa's wing-backs. It's believed Smith has taken a look at Sheffield United's expansive back-three mantra, with Chris Wilder always imploring Chris Basham and Jack O'Connell to drive forward.

In terms of Engels' situation, though, the £7.2m summer capture is yet to play in a back three for Smith while it remains to be seen if the head coach trusts the tall defender to play as one of his outside centre-backs next to Mings. Given he's a right-footer, then Engels' direct competition for a starting place is Konsa who struck home Villa's late winner - thanks to Mings' help - against Watford.

Engels could, for example, play where Mings is currently playing, in the middle of a back three. The 6ft 4in centre-back is good on the floor and reads the game well, but Smith likes Mings to dictate from where he is centrally. It's incredibly unlikely the England defender will be shifted to the left-hand side of Villa's back three in place of the hot-and-cold Kortney Hause.

"Bjorn's fine," explained Smith, when asked if there's been an issue with Engels. "I just put Chezzy on the bench. We've got five very good centre-backs within the squad so he's done some extra training back at Bodymoor with Jota."

Engels has since posted a snap of him 400 miles away on holiday south of Reims, the club he joined Aston Villa from in the summer. He hasn't been in a match-day Premier League squad since Norwich on Boxing Day, while he was once again left out of the squad on Tuesday night.

Villa, though, do have today off and are due back in tomorrow and Friday as preparations ramp up ahead of Tuesday's all-important Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Leicester City on Tuesday. Engels is fully expected to be in contention but, given a seven-day break away from match matters, Smith could well line up with his tried and trusted back three of Konsa, Mings and Hause.

As for Engels, it'll be a waiting game for the coming weeks. He must, though, be ready to come in should another cruel injury occur. In summary, Konsa is much quicker than Engels and Smith prefers the former to play as an outside centre-back from the right. The only route for a way back in for the man from Kaprijke is if Hause's form dips, then Smith could operate a back three of Konsa, Engels and Mings, Mings being on the left-hand side.

Fire you up

Aston Villa's match-winner Ezri Konsa has revealed how Troy Deeney's ironic celebration towards the Holte End fired him up.

The 22-year-old's sweet strike in the 95th minute won it for Villa against Watford, with the ball looping into the net off teammate Tyrone Mings.

However, after Deeney's opener 38 minutes in, Konsa admitted he had seen the Hornets captain mock Villa supporters behind the goal - and Villa's £12m summer recruit was riled to say the least.

"When Troy scored," Konsa said, "you could see from his celebrations how much he enjoyed it. It made us a bit angry and the fans as well so we knew we had to come out in the second half and do more.

Watford's Troy Deeney (left) and Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa battle for the ball in the air

"Things like that always fire you up – when you see someone celebrating like that in front of your fans. Watford have been in great form. It's always difficult for teams to come here and we know that.

"As a team we've always had that belief. A good point at Brighton gave us good confidence going into this game. This will give us confidence."

On the goal-claiming banter between him and Mings post-match, Konsa said: "Me and Tyrone have been joking about it. You could say I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't my goal but, at the end of the day, we got the three points which is what really matters.

"It's a bit of a weird one. He didn't even expect it – he was trying to get out of the way. As I hit it, it's just got the slightest little touch off his leg.

“So, I'm not in the headlines! I'm sorry about that. Winning is the thing, 100 per cent. We knew we had to win. Watford were a point above us. It puts a little bit of pressure on the teams around us. It just shows that we can stay up in this league. Wins like that can keep us in the league.

"It's absolutely massive for us. We went 1-0 down in the first half to what was really their first attack. But we went in at half time and knew that if we trusted in each other we could get the victory which is what happened.

"Nothing beats a last-minute winner. Pepe showed his qualities with that double save, same as he showed it against Brighton when he made that good save from Neal Maupay. It's great when you've got a keeper who produces at crucial times. He's been there, done that."

On Reina's influence, he said: "He's very chatty. He helps us a lot. Even though Tyrone is always chatting as well it's always good to have that back up behind him."

Konsa, meanwhile, who's edged out Bjorn Engels since Christmas, added on his own development: "I've played a few games in the Premier League now so I'm starting to get used to the tempo and the intensity. It's something I'm trying to learn from. Learning is a big part of my career right now and I'm trying to pick up things every day."

Window

Tanzanian striker  Mbwana Samatta  will take to the Bodymoor Heath pitches to link up with Jack Grealish and Co on Thursday.

The £8.5m arrival from Racing Club Genk has given  Villa and Dean Smith  a timely boost going into a cup semi-final and crucial games down at the bottom.

Samatta, 27, will fill the void left by Wesley who's out for the remainder of the season after a cruel cruciate ligament injury sustained at Turf Moor on New Year's Day.

This week, Jonathan Kodjia departed for around £2m after signing for Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC just hours before Samatta's long-awaited announcement.

However, with Keinan Davis still "one to two weeks away" from returning after a severe hamstring tear, the weight on Samatta's shoulders to fire in the goals remains enormous.

As for Smith, though, the Great Barr head coach has made it evidently clear he's in the market for another striker to take Villa's forward tally to three: Samatta, Davis and one more.

The gaffer has spoken about wanting a player with Premier League pedigree and experience - but admitted clubs from mid-table down will not cut Villa any slack by allowing a striker to join a relegation rival.

Smith has had transfer questions peppered at him over the past 10 days - and here's a round-up of his and Villa's search for another striker.

How hard is the transfer market, Premier League market's so tough, are you expanding striker search to Europe again after Samatta?

"You're looking all over the world, that's the market we're in now, and you have to because January is such a tough market.

Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith

"To get four different things aligned - two clubs, player and agent - at the same time is tough. We've good people working for us, very hard, and we're trying to get them moves over the line."

Are you in the market for a loan or a permanent transfer?

"It can be either."

Do you need one more striker?

"Yes, I do. It's something we're talking about all the time. Suso, the sporting director, believes the same as well. It's something we're looking for and looking to press on with as well."

How close are you to signing another striker?

"As I've always said, I'll never name-check any players. Everyone knows we've been looking for forwards and we're making progress."

As fans might start to get anxious, do you remain calm and confident?

"I’m calm and confident we will get players, for sure, but we have big games and the powers that be at the football club are working very hard so we can get a centre-forward on the pitch."

Is it just a striker you're looking at? Are you adding to the midfield as well?

"No, just pretty much strikers. There is a necessity there with Wesley getting injured and Keinan being out, it's an area we need to strengthen massively so we are looking for a couple."

How hard is this January transfer window trying to do business?

"January is even harder without recognised strikers as club's can see you want one and they can stick prices up a little bit. It's always has been a tough window, we have to take a couple of risks. We did it last season with Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause and we will look to do that again."

The January transfer window closes at 7pm a week on Friday, January 31.

Optimistic

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has revealed he remains optimistic that John McGinn will be fit for their pivotal Euro 2020 play-off in March.

The  Aston Villa  midfielder has been out of action since suffering a broken ankle in December, the injury cast huge doubt over his involvement for the national team's play-off with Israel on March 26.

Villa boss Dean Smith has recently claimed they have put no target on his recovery, after his return to Bodymoor Heath, on crutches earlier this month.

But Clarke, who is also sweating on the fitness of Manchester United's Scott McTominay and Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney, believes all three can return before the knockout tie in two months.

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"I am keeping my fingers crossed that the three mentioned recover well and can be available in March," Clarke told the  Daily Record.

"It will be close for all of them but always hopeful, never ruling anyone out at this stage.

"There is still a long time to go before we get to March.

"I've had feedback from the medical departments, all three are working towards recovery. Whether they make it or not is a different story.

"I am optimistic that they will all make it. That's what you have to be.

"They will be close. Whether they are close and make it or close and just miss it is going to be decided by recovery.”