Josh McEachran a loan target for Aston Villa

Alex McLeish has hinted Chelsea playmaker Josh McEachran could be a loan target for Aston Villa.

The Villa boss has made a new central midfielder his priority in January having seen on-loan Tottenham man Jermaine Jenas ruled out for the remainder of the season.

McLeish enquired about the 18-year-old in the summer but at that stage Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas wanted to keep McEachran at Stamford Bridge.

However, McEachran has found his opportunities limited to one substitute appearance in the Premier League and a handful of Carling Cup games.

The England Under-21 international has also been linked with a switch to Bolton and Villa's hopes of securing the player could hinge on Chelsea's pursuit of Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill, so McLeish remained coy on the prospect of a deal for McEachran.

"There is no movement at the moment. We are thinking about trying to add to the squad and it is probably not fair for me to talk about players at other clubs while there is no business being done," said McLeish.

"He (McEachran) is one of their hottest prospects. I think they are thinking about loaning him, yes. At the start of the season they weren't, but the word is they are thinking about it.

"But I don't want to say yes about anything because I am juggling a few balls."

Meanwhile, Villa striker Darren Bent is determined to make a difference against Stoke on Boxing Day as he eyes a return after a thigh injury.

"It is an important part of the season for all teams with so many games," said Bent.