Premiership: Standing ready to leave Villa

Aston Villa’s promising midfielder Michael Standing - who joined the club from Brighton at the same time as Gareth Barry - is set to quit the Midlands club.

Standing was generally regarded as an even better prospect than Barry when he at arrived at Villa Park from the Seagulls four years ago.

But while Barry has become a first team regular and an England international, Standing has hardly had a sniff of first team action and is resigned to having to leaving Villa to achieve that goal.

The 20-year-old could leave for nothing under the Bosman ruling when his contract ends next month if he moves to a club abroad and he is to have a trial with two Italian clubs when he returns from holiday.

But local rivals Birmingham City are also reported to be showing some interest in Standing, along with another First Division club.

Standing admitted: ‘‘I don’t think I’ll be staying at Villa. Hopefully I’ll have a few options to come back to after a short break.

‘‘I don’t know if I’ll be definitely leaving yet but if I do there will be a lot of regrets. I’ve been at the club a while and generally had a good time but if I move on it will be because I want first team football.’’

Standing’s agent Steve Kutner confirmed: ‘‘We’ll be talking seriously to a couple of clubs when Michael gets back from holiday.

‘‘He’ll be flying to Italy for a trial with a couple of clubs and then we’ll decide what is next.’’