Aston Villa have announced that they will take on MLS side, Minnesota United ahead of their pre-season schedule for next year's campaign.

The game is set to take place on Wednesday 17th July a the Allianz Field after a pre-season training camp has taken place for the Villans.

Dean Smith has already been in close contact with the American club, and has visited the facilities that they will be working in when they travel over to USA.

It is hoped that this trip will give the club the chance to reach out to their followers based in the United States, and fly the flag for the city of Birmingham.

The club are also said to be working on a package deal that will allow supporters that travel over to watch Villa in action, to observe training and be based close to the first-team squad throughout their stay in the summer.

Villa supporters will be hoping that this pre-season trip will be in preparation for a season back in the Premier League, with the Villans looking likely that they will finish inside the top six in this year's campaign.

They are next in action when they take on relegation-threatened, Bolton Wanderers on Good Friday in a game where they will be expected to make it nine consecutive wins in the league.

The Verdict: 

This will be an interesting test for Dean Smith's side.

Minnesota are no pushovers and they could provide Aston Villa with some problems on their day.

Villa supporters will be hoping that this friendly will be in preparation for a season in the Premier League, with the Villans well in contention for promotion this season.