Aston Villa have been in red-hot form over the last six games, winning four and drawing two, and look well set to challenge for promotion. 

Looking back on it, sacking Steve Bruce was probably the best decision the club have made in years as it led them to the appointment of somebody who suits them down to the ground.

Dean Smith has always been a master of attacking football, he showed this at both Walsall and Brentford, and now he is showing it at Villa Park. 19 goals scored in those last six games tells you all you need to know about the change he has made at the club.

The likes of Jack Grealish, Tammy Abraham, Yannick Bolasie and Anwar El Ghazi all seem to have found a new lease of life under the former Bees' boss and it looks set to build to a thrilling second half of the season for the club.

As well as they have been playing, however, you can bet your house that Smith will still be looking to improve his squad in the rapidly approaching January transfer window.

The latest name to crop up is one of his old-favourites, Romaine Sawyers, who has played for Smith at both Walsall and Brentford in the past.

It is one that will most likely fail to excite the Villa Park faithful too much, however.

His goal return so far this season is a big fat zero, and with just two assists to his name, it is not entirely clear what he has been doing with Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins running riot in front of him.

Taking on just over one shot per game points to an attacker who is pretty short on confidence and failing to achieve even an average of two key passes from attacking midfield is not something that is going to get the juices flowing either.

I know Smith is a big fan of the 27-year-old but he must be careful not to bring him in out of blind loyalty alone. He should take a look around his dressing room and realise that his attacking options are absolutely fine.

It is further back where Villa's bigger problems lie.