Aston Villa's recruitment since they were relegated to the Championship, and fans would say long before that, has been pretty abysmal.

Under former owner Tony Xia, the West Midlands outfit were desperate to throw money at signings to ensure they would return to the Premier League as soon as possible.

As we know, it didn't work for the Chinese billionaire and when you look back at some of the arrivals in that time, it's easy to see why.

However, one man who looked like he would be a nailed-on success was Henri Lansbury.

He joined in January 2017 after a very productive half-season with Nottingham Forest that saw him score six goals in 17 games and impress with his overall ability to dominate in midfield.

Therefore, it was no surprise to see Villa fans were very pleased by his capture...

Yet, the move has not worked out all since for Lansbury or Villa, with the former Arsenal youngster hit by a lot of injuries that have halted his progress.

In all, he has managed just 29 appearances for the club in the league since joining - and he is currently out injured now.

Even so, he failed to make a significant impact when he was on the pitch, managing just two goals in that time.

Ultimately, he has not been the player that everyone initially hoped and you wouldn't be surprised if he struggles to make another appearance for Dean Smith's side this season, given the options he has to choose from.

It's a shame for all concerned as the talent was evident and the fitness issues aren't his fault, but Lansbury is another player who will symbolise Villa's disappointment in recent years.