Touted as promotion favourites at the start of the season, Aston Villa have enjoyed a start to the season that suggests they will live up to expectations.
Steve Bruce’s men have been in wonderful form following a shaky start to the season, and are firmly in the mix for a top-six finish at this early stage of the season.
Despite injuries to key men, including Jonathan Kodjia and John Terry, the squad have rallied extremely well, and are certainly one of the form teams of the league.
Bruce strengthened exceptionally in the summer on a limited budget, bringing in a number of highly-experienced Premier League stars to help guide his side to a Premier League return following what will be a two year absence.
The likes of John Terry, Ahmed Elmohamady, Glenn Whelan, Robert Snodgrass and Chris Samba have all settled well in the West Midlands, with their knowledge of the game proving an exceptional tool in the quest for promotion.
Bruce may wish to bolster his squad in January, and could be forced to cut the wage bill before any new faces may be acquired.
With that in mind, these two men should be fearing for their futures at the club…
Ritchie de Laet
Most fans would be forgiven for forgetting the former Manchester United and two-time Belgium man was even at Villa Park.
The 28-year-old has struggled for appearances this season, and Bruce may be keen to get him off the wage bill in the new year.
The player does have the potential to have an impact on the team should injuries strike in the coming months, but with several faces ahead of him in the pecking order, it is likely de Laet will be nothing more than a benchwarmer.
Heading into the second half of his career, he needs to be playing, and must leave in search of minutes.
Birkir Bjarnason
The Icelandic international is simply not good enough to play for Aston Villa.
A regular for his national side, the player has struggled for outings since moving to the club from FC Basel in January, and has received heavy criticism for his level of performance in the handful of appearances he has received this season.
Bjarnason may look to move on in the new year to ensure he is on the plane to Russia in the summer, as resigning himself to the bench in the West Midlands could destroy the player's dreams of playing in Iceland’s first ever World Cup.
It’s time for Bjarnason to move on, and Villa to look for other options.
Villa fans, is there anyone else you would like to see move on in the new year? Have your say below...