Aston Villa are poised to step up their search for a goalkeeper and a striker with the club expecting Wesley and Tom Heaton to face significant spells out of action.

The pair sustained knee injuries in Villa’s 2-1 win at Burnley on New Year’s Day and the club were awaiting confirmation of the scan results on Thursday.

Villa were already planning to recall young goalkeeper Matija Sarkic from Livingston following Heaton’s injury, with Orjan Nyland – who replaced Heaton at Turf Moor – expected to be in goal for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round meeting with Fulham.

Aston Villa are considering a bid for Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland this month

But boss Dean Smith may seek more experience in that department, especially with Croatia international Lovre Kalinic poised to leave on loan this month, possibly to Spain.

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland is thought to be one name under consideration at Villa. The England international is out of contract in summer 2021 and is one of the higher earners at the struggling Championship club.

In attack, Villa were already looking to strengthen following Wesley’s struggles this season – his strike at Burnley was only his fifth league goal of the season – and those moves will be accelerated now he is unavailable.

Youth product Keinan Davis, close to fitness after a hamstring injury, and Jonathan Kodjia are Villa’s only specialist forwards, and neither has scored in the top flight.

Aston Villa No 1 Tom Heaton was stretchered off during the away win over Burnley

Villa are still only one point above the bottom three and may explore signing a forward on a short-term loan. It is thought Chelsea pair Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi have been discussed – both are keen to play regular football with Euro 2020 barely five months away, though their high wages would present an obstacle.

Meanwhile, Villa midfielder John McGinn has targeted a return to action in late March after being told he would not need surgery on his ankle injury.

It is understood the Scotland international is healing as well as could be expected after sustaining the fracture in the 3-1 defeat by Southampton on December 21.