There's bound to be growing optimism and expectancy around Aston Villa at the moment with them looking set to challenge for the top six at least this year.

Fans had initially worried that their club was going to once again fail to mount a challenge for the play-offs, and indeed promotion, after a sluggish start but they now look to have got the hang of Championship football.

Certainly, then, that bodes well with the quality they have but they must be worried that, if they don't make it back into the Premier League, the likes of Jonathan Kodjia will be leaving.

It's no surprise that Kodjia's return to the side has coincided with Villa's return to form and the striker is certainly the kind of player that could be playing, and scoring frequently, in the Premier League.

Indeed, the likes of Everton and Stoke are tracking the player at the moment - as per The Birmingham Mail - and you could quite easily argue the case for why he'd get into both sides.

It does seem, then, that regardless of where Villa finish this season - promoted or not - Jonathan Kodjia will be a Premier League player come the kick-off for 2018/19.

It's probably the same for a number of other players in the squad, too, and so, with that in mind, the need for Aston Villa to get back into the Premier League is massive.

It remains to be seen, then, whether they can achieve it under Steve Bruce.

Thoughts, Villa fans? Let us know below!