Alan Hutton would have liked Steven Gerrard to stay at Aston Villa

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 would have liked Steven Gerrard to have been given more time by the board at Aston Villa despite the dreadful start to the 2022/23 season.

Gerrard was removed from his duties immediately after Villa's 3-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Thursday evening (20 October).

Hutton believes the club could have waited until the upcoming World Cup break with just a few games remaining before Villa have a month off.

"I would have liked to have seen it if I am totally honest [wait until World Cup break]," Hutton exclusively told Villa News.

"It's a club that I want to see do well and support them and there weren't many games left. It was one cup game and maybe three or four league games and just see if he could turn it around.

"It was a brilliant performance against Brentford, would that have happened if Gerrard was in charge, we don't know, but hopefully he could've picked up a few points and then they could have made the decision.

"I understand the ambition of the football club, they want to get into those European places and to do that they felt a change was needed as soon as possible and that's why they've done it."

A new era now begins at Villa Park with Unai Emery now taking the reigns after spending time managing Sevilla and Villarreal in Spain.

The Villans will be looking to continue their revival against in-form Newcastle United who are now nestled in the Champions League places after an electric start to the season.

In other Aston Villa news, Lucas Digne could be available for clash vs Newcastle