Have Aston Villa found Alan Hutton’s replacement in West Brom’s Craig Dawson?

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Alan Hutton will leave Championship giants Aston Villa when his contract expires but West Brom’s Craig Dawson is on Steve Bruce’s radar.

Alan Hutton was ‘shocked and disappointed’ to learn that Aston Villa would not be extending his contract beyond the end of this season, according to The Mirror.

The long-serving right-back has been one of the most consistent members of Villa’s first-team squad since Steve Bruce took over in October 2016 and has started 24 Championship games this season, even filling in on the left when required.

But Villa, who are under pressure from Financial Fair Play, obviously do not see the need to tie down a 33-year-old regardless of what division they find themselves in next season.

Though, if reports are to be believed, Villa might have already identified a replacement for the veteran Scot with two months remaining until the end of the season.

According to The Sun (page 48, 18^th March), Villa are keen to raid local rivals West Brom for the versatile Craig Dawson with Alan Pardew’s side now all but guaranteed to be relegated this season.

Now, the 27-year-old might have made his name at centre-back but he had been pushed out onto the right under Tony Pulis and he has made that position his own.

Dawson is a surprisingly adept full-back and while he is not the most buccaneering of players, he still offers a threat going forward with his deceptively impressive crossing ability.

So if Villa are in the Premier League or the Championship next season, his experience and adaptability would come in handy in the post-Hutton era.