For the second consecutive season, Steve Bruce's Aston Villa will start their campaign against his former club Hull City.

Villa's first test of the season will see them face a trip to the KCOM Stadium on Monday 6th August after the game was selected to be shown by Sky Sports.

Last season, the Villans kicked off with a 1-1 draw against Hull with Gabby Agbonlahor's early goal cancelled out by Jarrod Bowen.

The visit to Hull will be followed by a home game against newly-promoted Wigan Athletic the following Saturday.

Ipswich Town are the next team to lie in wait for Aston Villa with a trip to Portman Road lined up for the 18th August before two home games in the same week.

On Tuesday 21st August, Villa host Brentford and then Reading make the trip up to the West Midlands on the Saturday.

The sixth game of Aston Villa's season sees them facing a difficult trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United.

But how well with they do in these early fixtures? Well, given the club's current financial crisis, their team could be unrecognisable by the first game of the season.

However, they have some very winnable games early on in the season, which should give Bruce's side a lift going into the tougher fixtures against the likes of Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

Home ties against Wigan, Brentford and Reading could all be victories for Villa - especially if they keep the core of their current squad - while away games against Hull and Ipswich are also very winnable.

The trip to Sheffield United will provide the first very tricky test for Aston Villa next season but they could be flying by that stage already - provided they do not lose too many of their players.