Kosta Nedeljkovic, the Serbian defender who agreed to complete a move to Aston Villa, is expected to return to action in Red Star Belgrade's final matches of the season before he leaves the club for the Premier League this summer. Nedeljkovic has signed a contract with the Lions after Villa agreed a fee with Red Star in the winter window and he's due to arrive in Birmingham at the end of the current campaign.

Nedeljkovic is only 18 but commanded a fee of £6.5m from Villa, who clearly had the long-term future in mind when they conducted their January business which involved deals for Morgan Rogers, Lino Sousa and Joe Gauci, alongside Nedelkjovic. The right-back, though, hasn't played a single minute of football since signing for Villa because of an injury set-back which has dogged his hopes of playing regular football before leaving Belgrade.

That injury was reported to have been suffered during Red Star's trip to Cyprus for a warm-weather training camp during the league's winter break, but he was believed to be close to being involved in their Serbian SuperLiga goalless draw with Vojvodina on Sunday. While that didn't materialise, there remain some key matches for Nedeljkovic to return for - and win the silverware he aimed to win on his way out of the club.

READ: Simon Jordan delivers theory on Aston Villa's 'interesting' vote against spending cap

READ: John Terry reveals why Aston Villa player 'broke down' and the job offer he rejected

Red Star have five matches remaining of their league season and they sit at the top of the table, 11 points clear of second place and city rivals Partizan Belgrade. They also have the small matter of the Serbian Cup final to come next month, which is also against Vojvodina, and Nedeljkovic will expect to return and get some minutes under his belt before the next chapter of his career - that, immediately, means Villa but also potentially Euro 2024.

Nedeljkovic holds an outside chance of being called into Serbia's squad this coming summer; while he is yet to earn a senior cap for his country, he has been invited to train with the senior team before now. Serbia play their first game of the Euros against England in the middle of June, before they take on Slovenia and Denmark, who make up Group C, in Germany.

Nedeljkovic has accumulated first-team experience in Serbia's top tier since the beginning of the season, but also in Europe - Red Star had no luck in escaping a Champions League group which also contained Manchester City and RB Leipzig, but those run-outs and exposure against quality European opposition will stand Nedeljkovic in good stead going forwards ahead of the challenges which await in the Premier League.

Villa have been informed of Nedeljkovic's injury. The defender was over in England watching his soon-to-be teammates in action earlier this year, and he was pictured outside of Villa Park with supporters after the defeat to Manchester United. His return to action will be timely ahead of his summer switch and to immediately improve his chances of featuring against England and co at the Euros.