Alan Hutton: Aston Villa Premier League goals will remain the same
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton believes Aston Villa will still have the same end goals despite a slow start to their 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
Before the campaign got underway, Matty Cash revealed (The Birmingham Mail, 4 August) that everyone at the club had ambitions of European qualification.
Hutton feels it remains achievable with the Villans only six points off of sixth place Brighton despite sitting 14th in the table at present.
“It still has to be top half, you look at how tight it is with Manchester United who are in sixth only a couple of points ahead of them, so it’s not a huge gap,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“For Villa not playing to their very best, they’re still not far off it. Of course, injuries have played a part with Gerrard trying to work out his strongest eleven and the consistency in the team.
“These are all things that Villa will be striving for so the goals will all be the same, top half, cup run and to finish as high as possible.
“It’s a process and it’s not going to happen overnight but he knows there’s a lot more to come from this team.”
Gerrard’s side face bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest in their next fixture knowing that a win could potentially take them into the top half of the table.
Cash could return in time to face his old side at the City Ground after being forced off with an injury in Villa’s 1-1 home draw against Manchester City.
In other Aston Villa news, Mauricio Pochettino would be an attractive proposition for the club’s owners.