So far, Henri Lansbury has cost Aston Villa over £100k per game, with just 21 starts since his move from Forest in January 2017.

When he left Forest he was club captain on a run of six goals in nineteen games.

It appeared as though he'd finally achieved the potential threatened by his loan spell at West Ham.

Now, thirteen months later, he is the Championship's forgotten man, with just one outing to his name this year, Villa's 3-1 defeat at home to Peterborough in the FA Cup.

Lansbury emerged from the Arsenal youth team and made his first impression in 2009 during a loan spell at Scunthorpe United.

Further spells at Watford and Norwich culminated in an impressive stint for the Hammers, finishing in the 2012 play off final win that earned them their top-flight status once again.

Nottingham Forest had seen what he was capable of and his ability to help fire a team to promotion - they forked out in excess of £1m for his services.

In his five years at Forest he made 130 starts, rising to captain of the side under some testing conditions.

Forest's managers changed regularly, but Lansbury became one consistent figure in a turbulent spell of the club's history.

In 2015 he scored 10 goals from midfield, in 2016, as his contract approached its end, he was linked with a move to Derby and in the past had allegedly interested Burnley also.

It was ambitious Aston Villa who secured his signature in a deal thought to be worth around £2.75m.

He had a track record of performing in the Championship and seemed a perfect fit for a side looking to elevate itself to the next level.

Sadly, it didn't happen that way.

He featured heavily towards the end of last season, but an injury in the League Cup tie with Middlesbrough set him back this campaign.

By the time he regained fitness, Villa were flying.

The £2.25m-rated midfielder came back with a superb goal against Leeds United, but since then there's been no room in the squad for the midfielder.

Lansbury now cuts a lonely figure at Villa, spending his days sat in the stands watching whilst they charge towards a Premier League return.

If that aim is achieved, surely there will be even less opportunity for the talented player to prove his worth?

Perhaps it will be in everyone's best interests if he is to move on in the summer.

He is at a critical stage of his career and needs first team games and there will be a collection of Championship sides eager to add him to their first team squad.

Whilst it hasn't worked out at Villa Park, Henri Lansbury represents a great investment for any play off chasing side.