Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner has revealed that the club are pushing for Alex McLeish to lead his side to Europe this season.

Despite a positive start for the Midlands club, a recent run of poor results has left the side eighth in the Premier League table.

"I think Europe sits there as a goal and this year that would be our goal," Faulkner told the Birmingham Mail. "That's what we want to try and achieve. It's not easy but I believe it's do-able this year. We've got a lot of ambition.

"The Premier League is very tough but Aston Villa is a great club and we should be up there challenging at the top of the league and we should be there pushing for Europe.

"I think that's got to be the goal and that should always be the goal for a club like Villa. I really do think if we can put a good run together that we've got a good squad."

Villa travel to Wales to take on Swansea City on Sunday.