Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has approached West Ham over the possibility of taking Jordan Hugill on loan.

The Birmingham Mail says Villa are in desperate need of firepower with strikers Scott Hogan, Keinan Davis and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy all sidelined through injury. Villa’s only fit forward is Ivorian Jonathan Kodjia and he missed virtually all of last season due to a troublesome ankle problem.

Bruce is said to be a long-term admirer of Hugill and has followed his career closely since he notched a double at Villa Park for Preston 18 months ago. The Preston forward joined the Hammers under David Moyes in a deal reportedly worth £10million last January.

Hugill has also been linked to loans to QPR, Leeds and Glasgow Rangers. The Hammers would prefer to make a deal permanent but may agree on a loan with an option to buy as a compromise.

Hugill was one of six players left out of a four day pre-season trip to Austria. The others being Sam Byram, Edi Fernandes, Reece Oxford, Sead Hakšabanović and Matt Holland.