ALEX McLeish has challenged Villa to finish in the Premier League’s top eight this season.

McLeish accepts it is a season of consolidation for the claret and blues, but believes they have the ability to eclipse last term’s ninth place.

Villa will have their minds on the FA Cup when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

McLeish is well-versed in what the FA Cup means to Villa, who have not lifted the trophy since their seventh triumph way back in 1957.

But he insists the Premier League remains the club’s priority and will remind his players of his top-eight target when QPR visit Villa Park on Wednesday.

“The Premier League is huge to us,” said McLeish, whose team are currently 11th, three points behind Stoke, in eighth.

“We’d like to climb the table as high as we can.