Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has suggested that the club will make a permanent move for Manchester United loanee Sam Johnstone during the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old has kept four clean sheets for the Villans since joining in the summer for a second spell at the club, having also spent five months at Villa Park in 2016-17.

Johnstone faces a tough task breaking into United's senior ranks, with David de Gea, Sergio Romero and Joel Pereira all in front of him, and Bruce is hoping to use that to his advantage when the window reopens for business in three months' time.

"It would be great to keep him here for the next few years as Villa's number one," he told reporters. "I will need to ask the question. The ideal move for us would be to buy him in January.

"You've seen it, a young goalkeeper coming in and getting better with every game he plays. The difference in him since he's started in January to now is light years. He's confident, playing every week and he's playing real football."

Johnstone, who is due to see his contract at Old Trafford expire next summer, has also previously spent time on loan with Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town, Walsall, Scunthorpe United and Oldham Athletic.