Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas says Aston Villa could challenge for Europe

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Charlie Nicholas feels that Aston Villa can finish in the top eight and even challenge for Europe this season, as per his column for Sky Sports.

The former Celtic man is impressed by the midfield duo of John McGinn and Jack Grealish and is also a fan of Dean Smith.

He said: “A lot of people got excited about Aston Villa at Tottenham, hanging on throughout. Are they going to be this team? I don’t think that’s the way they should play. Jack Grealish is a huge talent and I am a massive fan, but Villa need to play him higher – he is the Duracell battery.

I like what Dean Smith has done – Villa are not threatened by relegation. You can play Grealish and John McGinn in front of a holding midfielder, and if you do that they can make the top eight and threaten for Europe. If Smith gets this right, it could be that good.”

TBR’s View – Can Villa really do a Wolves in their first season back in the big time?

It would be staggering if Villa could do what Wolves did last season and qualify for Europe in their first season back in the Premier League.

Everton, Leicester and West Ham – as well as the Old Gold – have spent again to pursue that ‘best of the rest’ seventh placed finish so it would be a huge ask for Villa to gatecrash the party.

In truth, with so many new players, they still need to bed in and I’d be shocked if they were top eight when the season ends, as good as Grealish, Smith and McGinn are.