Aston Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister confirms club are in contract talks with Stewart Downing

EPL ; Stewart Downing, Aston Villa v Fulham(Getty Images)

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Aston Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister has revealed talks have begun over a new contract for winger Stewart Downing.

The midfielder is the club’s record signing, having cost £12 million from Middlesbrough in 2009 and despite having two years left on his current deal the club are keen to reward his form with a new, improved deal.

Aston Villa could be set to lose fellow England international, Ashley Young in the summer due to the winger currently refusing to sign a new deal and McAllister says it is key to the club’s development that they hold onto Downing.

“Stewart Downing has got two years left and we are getting into that area where it’s coming into our vision,” McAllister told the Express.

“It’s in progress at the moment. We are starting to make contact with his agent. We have to keep good players here.

“It’s been a very mixed season but Stewart has been very consistent – especially for a forward player in a team hat hasn’t been playing as well as it can.

“He would be my pick as our player of the year. I think him having been injury-free is massive. I don’t think he has missed a day’s training. He came here on crutches signed when had a broken foot. I think he will gain a lot of confidence from this year.

“Getting another pre-season under his belt, he will benefit from that. There’s more to come from him. Another wee target for Stewart is that he has always been in and around that England squad. The question is can he go and become a part of the team? I feel he has enough in his locker to do that.”

McAllister says that Downing could follow the example of former Aston Villa players, James Milner and Gareth Barry by switching from a wide player to a centre midfielder.

“We have looked at that. It’s something we have spoken about a lot. We gave him a little run over there against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s,” he added.

“He has got a fantastic shot that doesn’t require much of a back lift so, if we can get him in the central areas and with a sight of goal, you could see us working that in pre-season.

“He has two great feet. I would categorise Stewart a wee bit differently to Gareth and James.

“That’s no disrespect to them but Stewart has a wee bit more in the attacking third. Sometimes you need to change things and it’s good to know you have players who can adapt.”

Downing’s current good form is reflected in the Castrol EDGE Rankings where he is currently ranked No. 83, a rise of 86 places from the start of the season.