Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has a number of top-class players in his squad that are available to him for the remainder of the season.

The likes of John McGinn have been hugely impressive in the Villa midfield this season, but has his good run of form potentially ended any hope of another midfielder returning to the squad?

Henri Lansbury, who signed for Villa in 2017 for £2.75m, is likely to be one of the most frustrated individuals in the Aston Villa squad now, after he failed to get a move elsewhere.

If you put yourself in Lansbury’s shoes, what thoughts are likely to be running through your head?

First of all, frustration is going to be the first emotion that springs to mind here, as he’ll be wanting to player regular football, which he currently isn’t getting in Dean Smith’s side.

It is understandable that there are better options in midfield for Villa, which will only raise questions as to why Lansbury wasn’t loaned out or sold in January’s transfer window.

But no-one is going to complain if they are simply just picking up wages for not a lot of return, and he’s doing exactly that for the remainder of this year’s campaign.

Lansbury will know that his long-term future surely lies away from Villa Park, but with the club not willing to let him leave last month, he’ll be content to pick up the hefty pay cheque he’s getting each month.

It’s a ridiculous decision by Aston Villa to let him stay with the club, with both parties surely wanting to move on before the January transfer window concluded on Thursday evening.

Lansbury won’t be able to force his way into the starting XI anytime soon, and it’s likely to be a frustrating situation for both the club and the former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest man.