Maupay can make Smith regret not bringing him to Aston Villa tonight

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith returns to Brentford for the first time since he left for Villa Park tonight, looking to gain some consistency for his side in the play-off push.

And he will come face-to-face with a player the Evening Standard linked with a switch along the same path – from the Bees to the Villans – during last month’s transfer window, Neal Maupay.

Maupay refused (the Independent) to rule out the prospect of following Smith from west London to the West Midlands but has remained at Griffin Park, where his goals remain invaluable.

Smith will know all about the threat his former striker can pose and he must ensure that a defence that has been leaky all season – and conceded three times last time out at home to Sheffield United – can cope.

With two goals in his last three Championship games, Maupay is on decent form and will be keen to put a dent in the promotion aspirations of the manager who left Brentford midway through the season.

It’s an exciting subplot to a match that could see Smith end up made to pay for his failure to bring Maupay to Villa Park last month and provides another stern test to his ability to organise a backline that has not been up to standard all term.