Aston Villa star Robert Snodgrass must stop the public outbursts if he wants to save West Ham career

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Robert Snodgrass has been starring for Aston Villa since leaving West Ham United on loan and is facing a career crossroads.

Snodgrass was shipped out on loan to Villa in the summer with then West Ham boss Slaven Bilic clearly not a fan.

The Scotland international had only moved to East London in a £10million deal six months before.

After a difficult start in the Midlands, the 30-year-old has become one of the club’s most important players as Steve Bruce plots promotion back to the Premier League.

And a few months after feeling unwanted by the Hammers Snodgrass was suddenly flavour of the month again as David Moyes explored the possibility of terminating his season-long loan and bringing him back to the club in January.

Snodgrass was on the scoresheet again as Villa beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 away from home last time out to keep up the pressure on Cardiff for the second automatic promotion spot.

Snodgrass was booed off after the Wednesday win with home fans accusing him of diving.

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce was forced to defend his star man after the game, telling The Express & Star that he was only jeered because opposition fans want him in their team.

But Snodgrass could not leave it alone and took to Twitter to troll Wednesday fans the next day, saying: “For all you Sheff Wed fans that saying you want me to break my legs or die, keep your chins up today is a new day!

“Can’t give it if your not prepared to take a little bit back.”

And that is the problem with Snodgrass, he talks too much.

A good, proven player at both Premier League and Championship level yes. A world beater? No.

But the way Snodgrass publicly hit out at Bilic on leaving West Ham – only on loan remember – says a lot about the man.

Instead of getting his head down and doing his talking on the pitch Snodgrass could not resist digging Bilic out at a time when his job was on the line.

The Scot wasn’t done there either, biting back at West Ham co-owner David Sullivan after he told the press his sons “begged him” not to sign Snodgrass and Jose Fonte.

The midfielder would be better served using any animosity he is feeling to fuel good performances on the pitch.

With Moyes at the helm at West Ham there is a very real prospect Snodgrass could yet resurrect his career in London.

But his frequent outbursts will not do him any favours and should Villa not get promoted will surely have played his last game in the top flight.

Snodgrass is no superstar and needs to stop behaving like one if he is to get a second chance with the Hammers.

Keep quiet and do your talking on the pitch.