Steve Bruce and Aston Villa are focusing on securing promotion in the Sky Bet Championship during the run-in, with a Premier League return a real possibility for the club.  

Villa sit fourth in the Championship table at this current time, looking to strengthen their grip on a place in the top-six during the final eight fixtures of the season, with there still an outside chance they can challenge the top-two.

It has been a select group of players that have put Villa in serious contention, with Bruce reluctant to move away from 13 or 14 players who have helped to put his side in the position they find themselves in.

Whether Villa find themselves in the Championship or Premier League next season, changes in personnel will be expected at Villa Park.

With that in mind, we take a look at Bruce’s squad and highlight THREE players we believe are walking a tightrope…

Agbonlahor has hardly contributed on the field since Villa were relegated to the Championship, with Bruce not looking like handing the forward a chance between now and the end of the season.

At one time, Agbonlahor was a hugely popular figure at Villa Park, but recently, there doesn’t seem to be much of a relationship between player and supporters.

Time seems to be running out for Agbonlahor at Villa Park.

Alan Hutton has been preferred to Taylor at left-back during Villa’s best run of form this season, which questions whether Bruce fully trusts the Welshman.

Taylor is a high-profile name at Villa Park, but after a season on the fringe, he could be on the way out.

Other members of Bruce’s squad will be out of the door before Lansbury, but the midfielder hasn’t earned Bruce’s complete trust during his time at Villa Park.

There are names ahead of Lansbury in the pecking order, and if the midfielder is to have a future at Villa Park, he really needs to prove his worth during the run-in.

Lansbury has the ability, but gaining a chance to impress looks difficult.