Alex Moreno has returned to action for Aston Villa's Under 21 side as he looks to regain full fitness.

The defender sustained a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield back in May and hasn't featured for Unai Emery's side since. Moreno missed the whole of pre-season as he stepped up his rehabilitation, before eventually returning to the matchday squad in September.

He was an unused substitute against Crystal Palace and then Legia Warsaw, but missed the subsequent trip to Chelsea. Emery said Moreno wasn't 100 per cent comfortable to play and was therefore left out of the squad, but hasn't been named since.

But now he looks to be on the way back after posting an update on X (formerly known as Twitter). "Minutes for the legs..!" He said.

The left-back played 63 minutes of Villa U21's 4-3 win over Swansea City in the Premier League Cup

It previously emerged that Moreno had suffered a setback. Before Villa's win over West Ham on October 22, Emery said: "We are patient with them because they are progressing very well. The last step they didn't do being available to play two or three weeks ago.

"Moreno was training with us but the last step to be ready to play 100 per cent feeling good, he didn't do. We stopped him.

"Now, he will need time, not a lot because now he is progressing well, to be available not only to train with us, to be available to play official matches."