Australian midfielder Jordan Lyden is set to be rewarded for a breakthrough season at Aston Villa with a new long-term deal as the club looks to the future in the face of its impending relegation.

The 20 year-old has featured off the bench against Liverpool and Chelsea of late during Villa’s horror Premier league season, as well as twice in the FA Cup against Wycombe Wanderers.

With Villa marooned at the foot of the Premier League with 16 points from 32 games and certain to drop to the Championship, it will be leaning heavily on the likes of its Under-21 captain to help ensure a quick rebound to the top flight.

Talks have commenced with the Perth-born tyro who joined the Villans four years ago and has worked his way through the junior ranks.

“I have a year left after this season and we're in talks over a new contract now,” said Lyden, who has shown maturity and poise under fire to break into the first team squad in what has been a tempestuous season for the Midlands club. "I am happy to stay here. My loyalties lie with Villa. They have done a lot for me. Last year I was out injured and the club stuck by me.

“I am not sure for how long but I am sure I will be at Villa for a good few years yet. I am very happy here. I am hoping something gets sorted before the end of April.”

With six games left, Villa needs a miracle to avoid the drop but a realistic Lyden has an eye on the future as well as the present.

“Its been a tough season for Villa to bring through youngsters," he said. "I am lucky enough to have come in and done well and held my own.

"I feel next year might be my time, but there's a lot of work to do between now and then.

"And the season is not over yet. Hopefully we can get results and finish strongly. If we do go down it will be shame because of how big the club is but we’ll look to bounce back next year.

"It would be nice if they saw me as part of the future but I will need to prove that to them and show I am good enough to play.”

With caretaker coach Erick Black now in charge after the inglorious exit of Remi Garde, Lyden has sympathy for the Frenchman who was responsible for his elevation to the senior squad.

“It was tough for Remi, he wasn’t really allowed to buy players in transfer window," Lyden said. "It was a shame because he did give me my debut in the FA Cup against Wycombe and I owe a lot to him.

“Hopefully I can impress the new manager when he comes in, whenever that may be. Erick Black is very enthusiastic and likes players who work hard and he is similar to Remi.

“Hopefully I’ve impressed him and will get to play a few more first team games before the end of the season.

“He likes to bring in the youth players which is good. That’s probably the way forward for Villa if we do go down.

“There are some very good players in the youth and reserve setup here. We are second in the table in the Under-21s competition and more than capable of winning the league.

"We have some talented boys with a good work ethic and a real togetherness, which is what you need in a group of players. Hopefully more will come through."

Lyden is in the dark over who the next manager will be.

"Nothing has been said yet. Erick Black is the boss at the moment and we just have it work hard and impress him right now."

He is convinced Villa will rebuild and attract a quality new coach – Nigel Pearson, David Moyes, Steve Bruce and Chris Coleman are among these being touted for the job.

“We are still a huge club and will attract a great manager and top players," he said. "A lot of people will be gutted to see us go down.

“We haven’t had a prolific goalscorer this year like we had last season with Christian Benteke, who basically got us out of trouble. That's been a big factor."