Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Steve Bruce has admitted that he would ideally like Ritchie De Laet to spend some time away from Aston Villa on-loan.

De Laet is continuing his comeback from injury, which kept him out for almost the entire 2016/17 campaign, but is not yet fit enough for an extended run of games in the first team.

The right-back has featured on four occasions across all competitions this season, and completed 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup this week.

However, Bruce has conceded in an ideal world, the 28-year-old would be spending some time away from Villa Park building up his fitness, he said: “Ideally you would like him to go out on loan and get games in a competitive environment.

“He’s done all the training and the games, but when a big cup tie comes along, he hasn’t played for a year.”

With the loan window closed, De Laet is set to compete with Ahmed Elmohamady, James Bree and Alan Hutton for the right-back berth in Bruce’s starting XI.

Despite an assured display against Boro on Tuesday, De Laet is expected to have to settle for a place on the bench if selected in the matchday 18 when Villa face Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Elmohamady is expected to continue in the right-back role, after an impressive display in the 3-0 victory over Barnsley in the Sky Bet Championship last weekend.

The Verdict

Bruce’s frustration is understandable, with it hard for the Villa boss to give all the right-backs at his disposal an opportunity in the first team.

De Laet is in need of game time, but is not going to find it easy to come by at Villa Park, with so much at stake for Bruce and his side in the Championship.

The 28-year-old’s situation could be one to keep an eye on heading into the January transfer window, with it very possible that he could be heading out on-loan.

Aston Villa fans… Let us know your thoughts!