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Steve Bruce has confirmed Aston Villa are NOT in a position to offer Alan Hutton a new contract - because of their ongoing battle with Financial Fair Play.

Hutton, 33, has been in excellent form for Villa this season and Bruce has selected him from the start in 16 of the last 18 Championship fixtures.

The Scottish defender is out of contract at the end of the season and recently approached the manager to discuss the possibility of a renewal only to be told an extension was off the table.

Despite Hutton’s disappointment, Bruce insists it’s ‘not the end of the world’ for the defender and expects plenty of suitors. The Villa manager also refused to rule out a u-turn - but that depends on what division Villa are in come the end of the campaign.

“I think I said to Alan, I had to be honest with him to say, ‘Look, at this position where we are we’re not in a position to offer anybody a new contract’,” Bruce told Birmingham Mail columnist Tom Ross.

“The way the situation with the club is in finances and Financial Fair Play and I think we all need to know where we are, whether we’re in the Championship or we’re in the Premier League - if we’re in the Championship we’ll have to cut, it’s as straightforward as that.

“I’ve spoken to the people above me and we’re not in a position to offer anybody a new contract just yet. Alan Hutton has been in a situation where I’ve been here for 15 months and he’s done terrifically well. But we’ll have to look after the club and sometimes my job is to look after the club too.

“Let’s see where we are and see what happens. It’s not the end of the world for Alan Hutton because I’ve no doubt there will be takers from what we’re seeing at the moment. For a 33-year-old, it’s quite remarkable his fitness levels and what he trains like every day.

“He knows what I think of him but at this situation in time we’re not in a position to go forward with any of them.”

Analysis from Villa's SIXTH win on the spin

Aston Villa made it six wins on the spin with a 3-2 win over Burton Albion thanks to goals from Scott Hogan, Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish.

Ahmed Elmohamady (OG) and Liam Boyce reduced the arrears for Burton but Steve Bruce’s side achieved what they set out to.

Here are Alex Dicken’s findings from yet another Villa Park triumph.

‘Birmingham City, we’re coming for you!’

Once this one was wrapped up Villa fans took to taunting their neighbours ahead of the big one. The final Second City derby of the season will take place at Villa Park next Sunday and tensions are well and truly bubbling.

Villa are in their best run of form this season having won six on the spin while Blues aren’t doing too badly either. Villa’s bitter rivals beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsborough in what was arguably their most impressive win of the season.

Villa will undoubtedly head into the match as overwhelming favourites but Steve Cotterill’s side have taken 13 points from the last 18 on offer in the Championship and are no longer the pushovers they once were.

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Birkir Bjarnason has Mile Jedinak, Axel Tuanzebe and Glenn Whelan breathing down his neck but he’s showing no signs of surrendering his place in Villa’s starting XI having waited so long for his chance.

The Icelandic started his third successive league game and will play again next week against Blues. He understands the role Bruce is asking him to play and offers great protection to John Terry and James Chester in the heart of Villa’s defence.

It might have taken Villa a year to truly reap the rewards of last year’s investment, but it now looks as though they have a very accomplished player in Bjarnason.

Hogan’s hot streak continues

Hogan’s first half tap-in takes his tally to five in five since the turn of the year. Goals against Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley and now Burton make him the Championship’s hottest striker.

Villa signed Lewis Grabban on Deadline Day and Gabby Agbonlahor will have derby day in his sights - as will Keinan Davis - but none of them will start next Sunday.

Hogan has waited an awful long time to be Villa’s main man and he’s not going to surrender his place in Villa’s XI without one hell of a fight.

Hutton won’t be short of offers

Bruce explained how the club are unable to offer Alan Hutton a new contract due to their ongoing Financial Fair Play battle, saying the right-back turned left-back won’t be short on takers.

Another competent showing in what is supposedly a makeshift role will have Championship managers licking their lips.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Hutton has been a great servant for Villa and will be remembered as such.

Fans chanted his name throughout and if he keeps putting in such good performances that petition to get him a new deal might gather momentum!

Tuanzebe’s way in?

Axel Tuanzebe came on at right-back and that would appear to be his most likely route into Villa’s starting XI.

Central defence appears to be off the table with Terry and Chester guaranteed picks, meanwhile Jedinak probably has first dibs on the anchorman role if Bjarnason slips up.

Having said that, though, Ahmed Elmohamady links up so well with Robert Snodgrass down the right that it’s going to be extremely difficult for Tuanzebe to force his way in there.

Steve Bruce handed on-loan Manchester United man Axel Tuanzebe his Aston Villa debut in today’s 3-2 victory over Burton Albion.

A game against the Championship’s basement boys appeared a walkover on paper but Burton refused to lie down and presented Villa with one of their toughest tests of this six-game winning run.

Scott Hogan, Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish ensured Tuanzebe’s Villa bow ended in victory. Here’s how his afternoon unfolded.