Aston Villa look a team very much on the ascent with Roberto Di Matteo at the helm. A great deal of optimism is flowing around Villa Park after a quite frankly dismal campaign last term.

Having only won three times in the 15/16 Premier League campaign, the Villans were relegated from the top flight.

After Tim Sherwood and Remi Garde both departed Villa Park last season, in came Champions League winner, former Chelsea boss Di Matteo, a shrewd appointment for the second tier of English football.

It has been a steady start to the Championship campaign for the Villans, a 1-0 opening day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday was overshadowed by a brilliant 3-0 win over Rotherham United, with the fascinating youth prospects Jack Grealish and Aaron Tshibola, all brightening up the Villa Park turf.

Here, Football League World writer George Harbey identifies THREE other Football League prospects Roberto Di Matteo must look to bring in, in order to take Villa to the top once again...

Will Hughes

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The Derby midfielder would be a shrewd replacement for the likes of the departing Idrissa Gueye and Carles Gil.

The 21-year-old has made an impressive 122 appearances for the Rams in his 6 year tenure with the club, having been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United throughout the duration of his Derby career.

His mazy runs, agility, and firepower in midfield would be an incredible asset for Di Matteo's men.

 

Bradley Dack

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Gillingham's talisman has been nothing but instrumental for the Kent club, ever since coming through the youth ranks in 2010.

The 22-year-old has played an integral part in the Gills' successes in recent times, and has been the catalyst of the team's energy, and even picked up League One Player of the Year last term, where Justin Edinburgh's men came agonisingly close to the playoffs.

The tenacious attacking midfielder's flair would be crucial for the Villans, and he has netted 26 times in 126 games for the Gills.

 

Teddy Bishop

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Regarded as one of the most promising players in the second tier, Bishop made his breakthrough in the 14/15 campaign, and has been on the ascent from there on in.

Excelling under boss Mick McCarthy, the 20-year-old has been linked to many high profile clubs, after being at the heart of Ipswich's good times in recent years.

 

So...what do you think Villa fans? Would you like to see these young prospects at Villa Park this year? Which of these players have the most promising future ahead of them? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!