Aston Villa have hit a significant lull in form over recent weeks with the club winning just once in their last seven matches, falling behind in the race for the top-six in the process. 

They sit in 12th place after 27 matches but hopes of promotion are not yet over with Derby County, who currently occupy the final play-off place, just five points better off.

Last weekend's emphatic 3-0 loss to Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium will, or should, have acted as a big wake-up call for Dean Smith during the January window, however.

So far, goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic and centre-back Kortney Hause are the only names to arrive. They were two positions that badly needed to be strengthened so credit where it is due, Smith is moving in the right direction.

But the loss to the Latics exposed a huge weakness in their side in left-back Neil Taylor.

For a while now, Taylor has been an adequate option at left-back. Nothing spectacular, but very reliable both in defence and attack.

Against Wigan, however, it felt like a big moment in the career of the Welshman as he was torn apart throughout the game.

So, it is, therefore, time for change and Smith should pay through the nose to bring back an old favourite in the form of Brentford left-back Rico Henry.

The 21-year-old possesses the dynamism and flair that a Dean Smith team cannot work without as well as a defensive maturity well beyond his years.

He scored a brilliant goal against Stoke last weekend almost as another advertisement to his former boss who managed him both at Walsall and Brentford.

It was a failing of Steve Bruce to let players who were fast becoming a liability time to regain their form, but that is something Smith cannot afford to do.

Pay a hefty fee and get Henry in for Taylor.