Henry is Villa front runner
THIERRY HENRY is in pole position to become Aston Villa’s new manager but Brendan Rodgers remains under serious consideration to replace Steve Bruce.
Former Arsenal star Henry, right, has impressed the Villa hierarchy at interview, but owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris are big fans of Celtic boss Rodgers.
No approach has been made to the Scottish champions and it remains to be seen if Rodgers would be prepared to walk away from Celtic Park in mid-season.
John Terry is also primed for a coaching role at the club and could return to Villa Park regardless of whether Henry gets the top job. Whoever takes over will have a difficult task on their hands, the 2-1 defeat at Millwall on Saturday leaving the side in 15th place.
Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald, having been at the club since 1995 apart from a brief spell at Swindon, knows that now, above all, is the time for Villa to make the right call.
“It is important to get back to the Premier League but everyone is striving for it and it isn’t easy,” he said.
“Steve Bruce has got more promotions than anyone and he’s a good man and a good manager – there is no divine right to win football matches and get back in the Premier League. It has to be done in the right way.”
West Brom stayed in the slipstream of leaders Sheffield United with a 4-1 win over Reading which included a goal from Harvey Barnes.
The midfielder will make his England Under-21 debut against Andorra on Thursday and has his sights on a quick breakthrough to the senior team.
England manager Gareth Southgate is starting to reshape his successful World Cup squad and Barnes, 20, said: “All the young players know if they are doing it at the minute, then Gareth will be looking at them.”
Lukas Nmecha, who also has England ambitions, inspired a surprise 4-0 win over Wigan to lift Preston off the bottom of the table.
Nottingham Forest moved into the top six by beating promotion rivals Middlesbrough 2-0.
Joe Lolley opened the scoring – the first time Boro’s defence had been breached at the Riverside for 499 minutes – then set up Lewis Grabban.