Hutton: I don’t expect ‘great’ Elmohamady to be at Aston Villa next season after key update | OneFootball

Alan Hutton has admitted it is time for Ahmed Elmohamady to leave Aston Villa.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland international suggested his former teammate may have turned down a new contract in a bid to find regular first-team football.

As revealed by Football Insider, Aston Villa are planning to offload the 33-year-old when his current deal expires this summer.

The Egypt international has played a backup role for Dean Smith this season, with 13 appearances under his belt across all competitions.

However, an injury to first-choice right-back Matty Cash has handed Elmohamady a run of four consecutive league starts.

Danny Mills has urged Villa to pull a U-turn and hand the Egyptian star a new deal as a squad player.

However, Hutton believes it is time for his old teammate to move on in pursuit of regular game time.

“Look, he’s a great guy, he’s Mr Reliable,” Hutton told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.

“Even when I was there he would constantly give you a high performance. He’s obviously getting to the back end of his career now.

“He’ll probably think that’ll be next season it’ll be Matty Cash and Guilbert will come back. He’s been doing well over in France so will probably come back and fight it out.

“Elmo will obviously want to continue his career and keep playing football. It wouldn’t surprise me if it did move on.

“He’s at an age now where he probably wants to play games and finish his career on a high.

“I expect that to happen. Look, a fantastic servant to the club. He’s been there a long time now and whenever called upon he’s been Mr Reliable. That’s for sure.”

In other news, Agbonlahor has tipped an Aston Villa system change as big news emerges from Bodymoor Heath.