Steven Gerrard hopeful of Aston Villa signings as he asks experienced stars to step up

Steven Gerrard remains hopeful Aston Villa will have at least two new signings in situ before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday evening.

Gerrard is in the midst of his most challenging spell at Villa Park after a poor start to the season. Sunday’s defeat to West Ham was their third defeat from the first four games and they are down in 15th in the Premier League table.

It’s meant that undue pressure has arisen on Gerrard. But the former Rangers boss says he is up for the challenge of turning Villa’s poor form around.

“You get out of it (tough times) by turning your results around. We’ve shown before that after a difficult patch we can come through it and put patches of games together in a different way and move up this table,” said Gerrard, via the club’s website.

“I’ve been through tough times as a player and in my short managerial reign. I’ve been faced with challenges, heat and pressure, and I’ll accept that and take it on my shoulders.

“There’s no one more determined than me to change this current situation. We haven’t started the season well enough, results haven’t been good enough and I accept that.”

The Liverpool icon is also hoping for some help in the form of new faces after seeing Diego Carlos sidelined. A ruptured Achilles tendon means Gerrard is unlikely to see his marquee signing playing again this season.

“It’s possible we’ll be doing more. There are one or two things that we’re analysing,” said Gerrard, when asked about new arrivals.

“As I’ve said in previous press conferences, if things go our way we could have one or two new faces in. It’s not as straightforward as people think.

“We’ll try and do our best, and I know people are working hard in the background to try and support me in those areas.

“We’ve spoken before about the blow from (Diego) Carlos because he was a statement signing who was going to come in and help us. Missing him has certainly been felt in the last few games.”

Gerrard wants senior stars to ‘step forward’

Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Calum Chambers have played at the back in the last two games. Gerrard though wants new blood and Southampton defender Jan Bednarek is a reported target.

Gerrard said he was looking to strengthen the spine of his team towards the end of last season. But the injury to Carlos has left Gerrard with just Boubacar Kamara as the man bolstering Villa’s spine from last season.

Regardless of whether Gerrard is able to add to his squad, he wants more from his existing senior players.

“I said to the players after the game (West Ham) that we haven’t started the season how we would have wanted but we have a choice between going into a shell and feeling sorry for ourselves and the results continue or we step forward.

“I want my senior players and all my players to step forward. We need our players in the best form possible to give us a better chance to get results,” added Gerrard.