Andy Gray is tipping Aston Villa to finish above Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City in the Premier League this season.

With Villa owner Randy Lerner looking to sell the club and a string of uninspiring signings over the summer, Paul Lambert’s side are being tipped by many for another season of struggle.

But Gray has been enthused by the arrival of Roy Keane as Lambert’s number two and seeing Darren Bent and Alan Hutton, outcasts last season, return to favour.

And he now expects his former club to claim bragging rights over two of their big local rivals.

“Aston Villa will finish higher than West Brom and Leicester,” said the Scot, speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.

“My old mate at Everton, Alan Irvine, has got a real job on at West Brom. He lost a lot of players and he is a young coach still at this level.

“Leicester, again Nigel Pearson is a fantastic guy, but has he brought enough strength in? He has brought players in, but are they good enough to compete?

“I just think, with Aston Villa, there is something there. They have reintroduced a couple. Alan Hutton is back in the fold, Darren Bent is back in the fold.

“I’m not going to say that is suddenly going to make Villa’s season great, but I’m hoping Roy alongside Paul is going to drive them on and give them that little bit of an edge. So, I’m going to say Aston Villa will finish above West Brom and Leicester.”