Nicklas Helenius: Aston Villa striker may benefit from loan spell

The Denmark international only moved to Villa Park last summer, with Paul Lambert snapping him up from Aalborg.

The 22-year-old has seen first team opportunities limited, with Christian Benteke currently Villa's favoured option to lead their line.

Helenius accepts that he is still finding his feet in new surroundings and is prepared to be patient.

It is, however, possible that Villa could send him out on a short-term loan in order to get regular game time elsewhere.

Helenius' representative Mads Buch told Ekstra Bladet: "Nicklas is happy at Aston Villa.

"It's clear that they won't sell him now. They have said that they believe in him.

"If anything is going to happen then a loan deal is most likely. It is now a question of where Villa want him to develop, at the club or at a lower level.

"He is happy but this is about him being a part of the plans for the remainder of the season. If he's not in the match squad then it makes sense to give him games at a lower level."