Villa target Newcastle's Guthrie

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is considering Newcastle’s Danny Guthrie to replace crocked Jermaine Jenas.

Villa are reeling after learning on-loan Tottenham and England midfielder Jenas will be out for the entire campaign.

The 28-year-old has returned to his parent club after surgery on his ruptured Achilles - although McLeish has confirmed Villa must still pay his £45,000-a-week wages until May.

The midlands side have limited funds available, because owner Randy Lerner is cutting the wage bill.

So Guthrie comes into consideration as a cut-price target, as his contract expires next summer.

McLeish was originally planning to snap up the 24-year-old - who is out for a month with a groin injury sufered against Chelsea last weekend - on a Bosman in the summer but may now bid in January.