“It’s been a great campaign but my only worry is that someone tries to take him away, they need to keep him at all cost”- Lee Hendrie shares his only worry at Aston Villa as he says it would be catastrophic if one man leaves following the Villans fantastic season so far

Aston Villa cult hero Lee Hendrie has expressed his delight at the Villans clinching top spot in their Europa Conference League group on Thursday night.

Hendrie, speaking on Sky Sports News, says everyone connected with Villa is “buzzing” and the “only worry” for him is whether it puts Unai Emery further out in the shop window.

The Villans secured their place in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League with a draw at Zrinjski Mostar.

Villa opened the scoring in the 61st minute through Nicolo Zaniolo’s first goal in claret and blue. The Italian slotted home from John McGinn’s cross.

Matija Malekinusic’s curling late effort ensured a nervy finale for Villa, but Emery’s charges held on to finish top of Group E, a point clear of Legia Warsaw.

Hendrie feels Villa a great chance of winning the competition outright, and was also looking ahead to how the Villans will continue to fare in the Premier League.

“Villa through, they top the group and it has been a great campaign so far,” Hendrie said, via the Sky Sports website.

“Everyone associated with Villa is buzzing at the moment. My only worry is that someone tries to take Unai Emery away!.

“They need to keep him at all cost and by any means necessary

“The process and long-term plan at Villa was always to get back into Europe and be among the top five.

“I think they’ve got a fantastic chance of winning [the Europa Conference League].

“If we can add to what they’ve got in that forward line in January who knows where Villa might end up finishing [in the Premier League].”

Villa have well and truly struck gold in bringing Emery to Villa Park.

The Spaniard has been a revelation for the claret and blue outfit, turning them into an exciting and winning unit.

While the vultures will probably come circling in wake of Emery’s heroics, you’d like to think he’d want to finish the job and try to get Villa silverware first.

Up next for the Villans is Sunday’s Premier League trip to Brentford.