Scott Hogan: I was left hung out to dry by Steve Bruce's system at Aston Villa

The £12million striker netted just 10 goals in 54 appearances after being signed by Bruce in January 2017.

He had previously impressed at Brentford – where new Villa boss Dean Smith was among his managers – prompting Villa to stump up big money for him.

But Hogan, who has been sidelined by a groin injury recently, feels he was set up to fail.

He said: “The most difficult thing in football is not playing when you’re fit. The second most difficult is playing in a system where there is just no way on this earth it’s suited to you, you are hung out to dry a little bit.”

Sheffield United showed interest in the striker this summer, but Bruce kept Hogan at the club.

“I was assured we were going to change the way we were playing,” said the 26-year-old.

“So it was disappointing for me two days later when he signed a striker and nothing changed at all. I then had an injury, which didn’t help, but for the past five weeks I’ve been fit.”

And now Hogan is hoping to take his chance under his former Bees boss at Villa Park.

He added: “Lads who have been playing will be fearing for places and lads who haven’t will be thinking, ‘This is my chance to establish myself in the team now, get the club to where it belongs and become a hero’. Hopefully I can be one of those people.”