Aston Villa striker admits confidence was knocked as injury boost spotted in training

Here are your latest Aston Villa headlines on Saturday, February 26.

Steven Gerrard believes Aston Villa aren't too far away from kick-starting some much-needed form off the back of just one win in their last eight matches.

The 41-year-old has told his players to target a top-10 finish, a feat Villa haven't been able to achieve since 2011 under the late Gerard Houllier and his assistant and current No.2 Gary McAllister.

"Our form has dropped," Gerrard said. "We admit that. We take that on the chin, of course, we do, but this wasn't a job that would be sorted in 12, 13 or 14 games. We knew we needed a certain amount of windows. We knew we needed time to implement an identity.

Steven Gerrard has spoken about the importance of lifting the doom and gloom at Aston Villa by returning to winning ways down at Brighton.

Villa are yet to win off the back of the winter break and are scoreless in more than 240 minutes of Premier League football.

As for Gerrard, he orchestrated Villa's final training session at Bodymoor Heath prior to travelling to the Amex Stadium.

In the club's latest behind-the-scenes footage from Bodymoor, picks out the interesting bits with Villa not giving too much away on this occasion.

Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry has admitted that confidence was knocked after the unsuccessful spell at Ipswich Town earlier this season.

The 18-year-old arrived at the League One outfit in August but featured just six times before being recalled by Villa at the start of this year.

Late last month, Barry joined Swindon Town in the fourth tier and, after being eased into the team, has rediscovered that goalscoring touch.

A first Town goal away at Carlisle United last weekend was followed by a brace against Walsall in a 5-0