Steve Bruce could hand Villa debuts to attacking pair Yannick Bolasie and Tammy Abraham at Ewood Park.

The duo, signed on loan from Everton and Chelsea respectively, are yet to feature for Villa who, like Rovers, went in to the international break on the back of a 4-1 defeat after losing to Sheffield United.

Bolasie, aged 29, joined last month on a season-long loan from Everton and has been working on building up his fitness after struggling with injury in pre-season. 

That could see him take his place in the squad for Saturday’s game, as Bruce told the Express & Star: “We always had it in our mind that we want him ready for after the international break.

“He’s making huge strides out there. We’re quietly confident that he’ll be ready for Blackburn.”

Twenty-year-old Abraham scored on his last visit to Rovers as a Bristol City player in April 2017, one of 26 goals for the Robins during a season-long loan.

He found the net eight times for Swansea last season but has dropped back to the Championship in a bid to find his feet and regain the form which saw him win two England caps in November 2017.

Abraham scored for England Under-21s yesterday in their win over Latvia.