Aston Villa have enjoyed a solid first half of the campaign, and remain in contention for an automatic promotion spot heading into the second half of the season.

Steve Bruce has assembled a strong, experienced squad littered with an influx of academy graduates, and the balance achieved within his side will please the former Hull City manager.

A limited transfer budget was enforced in the summer due to big-spending the year before, with the likes of Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan and Ross McCormack joining the club for combined fees of close to £40 million.

With only the signing of Kodjia working out for Bruce, and with the Ivorian out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle, movement is needed in the January transfer window to bring fresh new striking talent into the squad.

With that in mind, Bruce should look to target these two striking options...

Oliver McBurnie

The 21-year-old has a bright future in the Premier League, but is in desperate need of a second tier loan move to really get his career moving.

McBurnie has made seven top-flight substitute appearances so far this season totalling 79 minutes of actions, but regular first-team exposure is what the youngster needs at this stage of his career.

The player is firing on all cylinders in the reserves, notching an impressive nine goals in only six starts for the second-string, and it is blindingly obvious that the youngster has talent.

If Bruce can seal his signature and get him firing at senior level, then goals will come easily for the player.

James Wilson

A tried and tested forward with Premier League experience, Manchester United youngster James Wilson appears to be the ideal signing for Bruce.

The manager could easily use his links with the Premier League giants to secure a short-term deal for the 22-year-old who scored twice on his top-flight debut against Hull City in 2014, and Wilson could begin to live up to the promise he showed on his Red Devils bow.

The player is lacking confidence, and is a long way from breaking into the first-team at Old Trafford with Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic challenging for the starting role, so a Championship loan switch makes perfect sense.

Spells with Brighton and Derby in the past were not overly successful, but now older with more experience, now could be the time for the player to finally live up to his lofty potential.

Villa fans, who would you like to see brought in in the new year? Have your say below...