Aston Villa moved closer to securing a loan deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, after the 24-year-old attended the Villains' pre-season friendly at Telford last night, report the Birmingham Mail. 

The shot-stopper, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the Red Devils, spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa Park.

United legend and Villa boss Steve Bruce was clearly impressed with the Englishman and looks set to make the goalkeeper a cornerstone of his bid to return the Midlands outfit to the Premier League, in his first full season at the helm.

Johnstone did not play any part in the friendly, in which Villa ran out 4-0 winners, helped by two goals from Henri Lansbury.

However, the report suggests that the loan deal is on the verge of being announced, and Bruce is sure to be keen to get Johnstone reintegrated with his team-mates, as soon as possible.

Realistically, with David de Gea, Sergio Romero and Joel Periera, a compatriot of Jose Mourinho, ahead of him in the pecking order at Old Trafford, Johnstone really has to leave in order to find match time at this stage of his career.

Furthermore, after a nomadic career in which loan deals have taken him to Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town and Walsall, amongst others, the Englishman could do with settling down and playing football in one place.

He will surely be looking to engineer a permanent deal in a year's time, provided that the coming campaign passes as expected.

Villa fans - what do you make of the impending loan deal? Do you want Johnstone between the sticks next season? Let us know in the comments below...