Aston Villa's outside chances of finishing second weren't helped with Cardiff's late win against Norwich on Saturday.

However Steve Bruce will still want his side to finish the season on a high anyway as they try and build momentum ahead of the play-offs.

Promotion is crucial to Villa, who have spent very big in the past two seasons to try and return to the top-flight. So much so, that if they fail to go up, a lot of big financial decisions will need to be made at the club, which could see many of the big earners leave.

Yet, Villa will have planned for both outcomes and will be prepared for whatever happens.

Either way, the summer is going to be huge for Bruce and the club and here we look at three players who could make a difference at Villa Park next season in either division...

Apart from James Chester, Villa have several ageing centre-backs and it's a position that needs addressing this summer.

Liam Moore would be a great addition and the powerful defender will surely want to move after Reading's poor season.

He has all the attributes to form a strong partnership with Chester for years to come.

Whilst Jack Grealish is a fine creative player in the final third, Villa don't really have a deep-lying playmaker that can get the ball into the attacking players quickly.

Woods would change that, with his excellent passing ability and the way he controls the tempo.

He is exactly what Bruce's side are missing and would help encourage a more attractive style of play.

The Bristol City forward has enjoyed an outstanding campaign and was deservedly named in the Championship team of the year.

He combines his pace and movement with intelligence and technical ability and has become one of the better players outside the Premier League.

A move from Ashton Gate in the summer is likely if they fail to make the top six and Villa should be doing all they can to convince him to the West Midlands.