Aston Villa look a transformed side under Dean Smith but if a promotion push is to come in 2019 the club need to have a productive January and solve some ongoing issues.

Going forward, Villa are outstanding and are amongst the most dangerous sides in the division, but their problems come at the other end of the pitch, where Orjan Nyland continues to throw away points.

Nyland is improving, but mistakes are still creeping into his game and you doubt that a side with him in goal can be considered serious promotion contenders.

Reports suggest that Smith’s looking at alternatives for the New Year, and the answer could be right under his nose, to a certain extent.

Jed Steer is a Villa player, on loan at Charlton and impressing in League One.

There’s a recall option on the loan deal and it’s one that Villa must consider in the New Year.

The 26-year-old impressed in Villa’s opening day victory over Hull, and since then, he’s kept four clean sheets in 16 appearances for Charlton in League One, helping Lee Bowyer’s side into promotion contention.

Whilst he might not be the man everyone wants at Villa Park, he’s a solid option, and, more importantly, a cheap one.

Smith’s hands will be loosely tied in the coming month and he won’t be offered millions and millions to strengthen. You could certainly argue that a left-back and centre-back are still needed on top of a goalkeeper.

Bringing Steer back would go a long way to solving the problems Nyland has created and would also give Smith more freedom to add the quality to the unit sitting just in front of the goalkeeper.