Aston Villa are struggling in the Championship and slowly but surely, the pressure is beginning to build on Steve Bruce after a number of disappointing results.

The 3-1 home defeat to Barnsley was a real blow for the Villains, who have now dropped to 16th in the table following the result.

And with the team now closer to the relegation zone than the promotion places, there's plenty of work to do if the team are to find success this campaign.

It's been a tougher season than many Villa fans were expecting but for those who have been stuck in the division for a while now, they will tell you how difficult it is to mount a serious promotion push year-after-year.

And following the defeat to Barnsley, we think there are a couple of players that Steve Bruce might regret letting go in January.

So with that in mind, here's 2 January departures that might have been better off staying at Villa Park...

 

Rudy Gestede

After Ross McCormack's loan move to Nottingham Forest was confirmed late on in the transfer window, the pressure on the shoulders of Jonathan Kodjia increased tenfold.

The former Bristol City man is now one of the sole strikers who will need to find some form if Villa are to climb the table which begs the question, why was Rudy Gestede sold to Middlesbrough so willingly?

Granted, his goal return wasn't fantastic but he was a good option in a Villa team that have been struggling to find goals all season.

He gave Villa that little bit of something different when things weren't going their way and his departure could be one that is rued in the second half of the campaign.

Aaron Tshibola

Like Ross McCormack, Aaron Tshibola was loaned to Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the campaign.

The former Reading man arrived at Villa Park with plenty of hype and supporters were excited to see the burly midfielder in action.

But he struggled to break into the first-team and now, he could be set to help a side that are in and around the same area as Villa in the table.

Whilst he's not a player that will be missed quite as much on the pitch, his form for Forest could have a huge impact on Villa's season and their flirtation with relegation, if form doesn't pick up.