Aston Villa have been in excellent form under Steve Bruce.
Alan Shearer has told Match of the Day’s Facebook page that he would not be surprised if Aston Villa win promotion back to the Premier League this season.
Aston Villa have enjoyed a major upturn in fortunes since they sacked Roberto Di Matteo last month and hired Steve Bruce.
Under Di Matteo, the Villans had won only one of their first 11 Championship games, but Bruce has already won three of his first five games in charge – the other two were draws.
As a result of their resurgence, Villa sit 14th in the table but only five points separates them and sixth-placed Leeds United in the last playoff place.
The 55-year-old manager is something of an expert when it comes to winning promotion, having done so on four occasions with two different teams in the past – Birmingham and Hull.
And although Shearer believes that finishing in the top two of the Championship is too much of an ask this season, the Newcastle United icon believes that a spot in the playoffs is definitely a possibility.
“It’s a big ask for them to bounce back automatically, but they might have a chance of getting into the playoffs,” he told Match of the Day’s Facebook page.
“It [hiring Bruce] was a brave appointment, but I am a fan of his. He’s got an excellent record of getting teams up from the Championship. It wouldn’t surprise if he gets Villa up – maybe not this season, but I think they’ll definitely be in with a shout next season, if not this season.”
It gets tough for Aston Villa after the two-week international break as Bruce and co visit Brighton & Hove Alvion, who sit second in the Championship, three points behind the Magpies.
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