Steve Bruce confirms Alan Hutton contract talks

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has revealed that his club will soon open contract talks with Alan Hutton.

Hutton has made 32 appearances in all competitions for Villa this season, and impressed in both legs of his team's Championship playoff semi-final victory over Middlesbrough.

The 33-year-old will be out of contract at the end of next month, but Bruce has said that talks over a new deal will soon begin regardless of whether Villa secure Premier League promotion.

"I think I've picked Alan Hutton more than anybody else. He is everything that I enjoy in a player. He gives you everything he's got. At 34 years old he is quite magnificent in terms of his fitness," Bruce told reporters.

"He works like a beast, always first in - a manager's delight. If anyone deserves a contract, it's Alan Hutton. I can confirm to you now we will be talking to him next week, whichever division we are in. He deserves it.

"Playing left-back has probably enhanced him a bit. It's slowed him down a bit, he has to come back on his right foot to play. But since we moved him there he's gone to a different level."

Villa will face Fulham in the Championship playoff final on Saturday afternoon.