It has been a turbulent few months for Aston Villa, but the appointment of Steve Bruce as manager a fortnight ago seems to have steadied the ship at Villa Park.

The former Birmingham and Hull manager took over from the sacked Roberto di Matteo on October 12, after the Italian, only employed in the summer, oversaw just one league win in their opening 11 Championship matches.

The Villains were languishing near the bottom of the division, but Bruce’s arrival appears to have changed things at the Birmingham-based club, as they have picked up seven points from a possible nine since Bruce’s appointment.

This includes their first away league win in 437 days courtesy of a 2-1 win at Reading, followed by a solid 1-0 victory over Fulham at Villa Park.

This weekend, however, is the big one, as Villa travel to rivals Birmingham on Sunday in what will be the first league meeting between the two sides since 2011.

Despite Bruce’s good start, he may want to reinforce his squad in January in a bid to possibly challenge for the top six, so here are THREE forwards he should look to bring in during the transfer window…

David Nugent

Another player who made the step up to the Premier League but has not had the desired effect, David Nugent could seek a move away from Middlesbrough in January.

The former Leicester and Burnley man is yet to start a Premier League game for Aitor Karanka’s side this season, despite Boro’s woes in front of goal.

However, his Premier League goal-scoring record does suggest that he is more suited to the Championship.

Throughout his career, he has netted 14 times in 97 top-flight games, whereas in the second tier, he has scored 103 goals in 306 games. It’s a staggering difference.

He could still do a job in the Championship, and Bruce may look to bring him in during the transfer window.

Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch has one of the best goal-to-game ratios of anybody who has ever worn an England shirt, but his career has stunted in recent years.

The forward, who scored 22 goals in 42 games for his country, has been at Stoke City since 2011 and, although he was a regular starter in the first four seasons there, he appeared just 11 times in the Premier League last time around.

In this campaign, he has started just once in the league, and has yet to find the back of the net in three other appearances for the Potters.

Thus, the 35-year-old could look to move away from the bet365 Stadium, and Villa, with whom Crouch spent a few years between 2002 and 2004, could be a club that would benefit from his services.

Lewis Grabban

It has not been a great few years for Bournemouth forward Lewis Grabban.

Originally on the South Coast from 2012 to 2014, the forward then made the move to then-fellow Championship side Norwich – this coming off the back of his best goal-scoring season at Bournemouth, where he netted 22 times in 44 league matches.

He then scored 12 for the Canaries to help them win promotion to the Premier League but was unable to nail down a first team spot, and moved back to Bournemouth in January this year.

Eddie Howe spent £7 million bringing him back to the club, but Grabban has yet to score a goal for the Cherries, and is out of favour at the Vitality Stadium.

Although a few injuries have hampered his progress, Grabban’s goal-scoring record at Championship level is clear to see, and could benefit a Villa side who have netted just 14 times so far this season.