Aston Villa are having yet another season to forget.

The West Midlands outfit were relegated from the top flight for the first time in the Premier League era last season after a dismal campaign.

Many backed the Villains to bounce straight back up, especially when they splashed big cash in the summer to land the likes of Jonathan Kodjia, Tommy Elphick, James Chester, Ross McCormack, Mile Jedinak and Albert Adomah.

However, Roberto di Matteo was sacked after picking up just one win and Steve Bruce came in.

After an initial resurgence, Villa are on the decline again.

No win since Boxing Day and just one point in 2017 has seen any play-off hopes diminish and the possibility of dropping into a relegation scrap too realistic for fans' liking.

The players need to stand up and show their manager and the fans why they deserve to wear the Claret and Blue shirt.

Here are 2 that need to impress before the end of the season.

Alan Hutton

Alan Hutton's contract expires at the end of the season and he is going to need to put in some real shifts to earn a new one.

With James Bree arriving in January and Ritchie De Laet expected to return from injury in the summer, Alan Hutton looks like he will be surplus to requirements.

Teams have been targeting Hutton as right back has been identified as a weakness for Villa so Hutton needs to ensure he ups his game or else he'll be on his way out.

Tommy Elphick

Tommy Elphick arrived in the summer but has failed to live up to expectations.

A string of errors have made him unpopular with fans and Bruce might look to add some defensive players this summer if Elphick doesn't improve.

The former Bournemouth centre half will need to show his critics what he can do or he might face the axe at the end of the season.