Steve Staunton: Interim boss will fire up the club

With the club's pursuit of top managerial target Remi Garde having stalled over the Frenchman's choice of backroom staff, MacDonald looks likely to remain interim boss for at least a little while longer.

Former Villa defender Steve Staunton had the Scot as an assistant during his time in charge of the Republic of Ireland and reckons his former colleague has all the qualities to cope with the challenging circumstances the club finds itself in.

MacDonald returned to Villa earlier this year to become part of Tim Sherwood's backroom staff.

Sherwood was sacked on Sunday after a sixth straight Premier League defeat.

And Staunton said: "The club could not have got a better man to have in this situation than Kevin – it was a great decision by Tim Sherwood to take him back in.

"Kevin is a football man, one of the best coaches I worked under and worked with – and I'm not saying that just because we get on.

"The one thing Kevin will do is fire them up. I'm not saying all the players will like him but they'll like him for his honesty, his hard work and because he'll want to get them playing and get their confidence up. He will have them working their socks off."

Garde is Villa's preferred candidate to succeed Sherwood but reports suggest he will only take the job if former assistants Gerard Baticle and Bruno Genesio join him in the Midlands.

Both are still employed by Lyon and the French club are refusing to let them go.

It means MacDonald is increasingly likely to take charge of Monday's game at Tottenham as Villa consider alternatives.

The 54-year-old yesterday warned Sherwood's dismissal might undermine the club's plan to improve their youth development system, which he has been concentrating on since his return.