 Because of this, he was among several players up for sale in the winter transfer window, in order to reduce the wage bills.Although the move never happened, he remained on the substitute bench for the rest of the season, as Bruce preferred the central-defensive partnership of Nathan Baker and James Chester, who also took his place as the captain as well, and mostly came on as a late substitute.Despite this, Elphick went on to make the total of 26 appearances in his first season at Aston Villa.