A depleted Leeds United travel to Championship promotion contenders Aston Villa on Friday night.  The Whites currently have an injury crisis, with Paul Heckingbottom relying on a number of players who have made the step up from the Under-23s over recent weeks.  Before a ball was kicked this season, Aston Villa were one of the favourites to win promotion and they have virtually guaranteed a Play-Off spot with four games remaining.  They can still mathematically achieve a top two finish, but that feat seems unlikely, as they sit five points behind second placed Fulham.

League position

Aston Villa: 4th

Leeds United: 14th

Recent form

Aston Villa: LDWLW

Leeds United: LWLDL

Head to head

Aston Villa wins: 38

Draws: 29

Leeds United wins: 30

Last time at Villa Park

Tuesday 29th December 2016

Sky Bet Championship

Aston Villa 1 (Kodjia pen 86)

Leeds United 1 (Jansson 54)

Attendance: 37,078

Villa: Bunn, Hutton, Chester, Baker, Amavi, Jedinak (Gestede 78), Westwood, Bacuna, Grealish (McCormack 49), Ayew (Adomah 78), Kodjia.  Subs not used:  Gollini, Elphick, Agbonlahor, Gestede, Gardner, Adomah, McCormack.

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Cooper, Jansson, Berardi, Phillips, Bridcutt (Vieira 82), Dallas (Hernandez 56), Sacko, Roofe (Wood 68), Doukara.  Subs not used: Silvestri, Mowatt, Antonsson, Denton.

A late Jonathan Kodjia penalty gave Aston Villa a point in our last meeting at Villa Park, back in December 2016.  Leeds had taken the lead in the 53^rd minute when Pontus Jansson headed home a Stuart Dallas corner.  The Whites went close from another set-piece two minutes later, when Dallas again found Jansson at a corner, but this time he was denied by the crossbar.  However late on Liam Cooper was penalised for handball and Kodjia made no mistake from the spot, sending Rob Green the wrong way.

Team news

Alan Hutton and Andre Green missed Villa's win against Cardiff on Tuesday with injury and Friday's game is likely to come too soon.  Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Laurens De Bock, Adam Forshaw, Eunan O'Kane, Matthew Pennington, Tyler Roberts, Conor Shaughnessy are still expected to be absent for the Whites with injury.  Gaetano Berardi remains suspended, whilst Pontus Jansson is doubtful after being withdrawn against Preston North End.

The key battle

Jack Grealish v Ronaldo Vieira

It promises to be a great battle in midfield between Grealish and Vieira on Friday night.  Grealish is arguably one of the biggest talents in the Championship and has found his goal scoring boots, with two goals in his two last matches.  Vieira has started United's last four games and he will be looking to keep Grealish quiet at Villa Park.

Betting odds with Ladbrokes

Aston Villa: 7/4

Draw: 3/1

Leeds United: 24/5 

(Odds correct at time of article published)

Click here to bet now.