Scott Hogan ready to quit Aston Villa if he cannot force his way into club's Premier League plans

The 27-year-old, who finished last season on loan at Sheffield United, will report back to Bodymoor Heath for pre-season training next month and has not given up hope of re-igniting his career at Villa Park.

But he is prepared to move elsewhere if Smith is unable to offer him regular game time.

Hogan made a first competitive start for the Republic of Ireland in Monday’s 2-0 win over Gibraltar and knows he needs to be playing regularly to further his international ambitions.

He told RTE: “I have got a good relationship with the manager (Smith).

“He has had me before and he knows what I’m about. I’ve got to go in and get my head down and try to break into that team.

“If I can’t do that then I have to hold my hands up and look elsewhere. It’s up to the manager and the people above him.

“It’s a big club who are probably going to have a real go next year and spend a bit of money so whatever will be, will be.

“The important thing is I get maybe 40 games under my belt because I’m confident if I get 40 games, I’ll get 25 goals.”

Hogan has scored just 10 goals since joining Villa in a big money move from Brentford in January 2017 and did not start a Championship fixture for the club last season.

He continued: “I just want a run of games. The only time I had a run of games at Villa I did get the goals.

“I can’t look in the past now. I have to look forward. I’m 27 now and I’m coming into the peak. “It’s all about playing games and the manager (Irish boss Mick McCarthy) pulled me aside and said you just have to play.”