Aston Villa are a club who are in need of a huge overhaul and recovery period, after a quite frankly dire 2015/16 season.

Since the club reformed in 1993, The Villains were yet to be relegated from the top flight, despite coming agonisingly close to the drop in the 2014/15 campaign.

This statistic soon took a dramatic turn for the worse, however, as the West Midlands club only picked up 17 points, winning just 3 times in the whole of the Premier League campaign last term.

To say the way the team were lacking any real leadership or stability, is a huge understatement in itself, after leaving the Villa Park faithful humiliated at their team's expense.

Although, Villa will be hoping that they can now put the past aside, as they prepare for the 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship campaign, with new manager Roberto Di Matteo, and a new chairman at the helm of the club, leaving the demise of former owner Randy Lerner firmly behind them.

Di Matteo, who was winning the Champions League not so long ago with Chelsea will look to steer the Villains back into the top flight of English football, and above anything else, regain the pride that was unlawfully lost last campaign.

Chinese business man Xia Jiantong is the new Chairman/Owner at the Midlands club, and has already delved into his bank account to secure the signing of Tommy Elphick from AFC Bournemouth, young Reading hotshot Aaron Tshibola, and Italian under-21 goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Here, Football League World writer George Harbey identifies THREE players, that could play an integral role in Villa's push for promotion this term, that are a lot closer to home than first expected by the Villa Park faithful, some of whom will look to regain any sort of decency and surprise the Villians this time around.

 

Jack Grealish

With Grealish featuring in 16 games last season, that ALL ended up in defeat, the talented 20-year-old was on the back of some persistent abuse from the media last campaign.

Their views, however, only differentiate with the ability the young winger has.

After returning back from being on loan at Notts County in 2014, Grealish made several appearances in the Villa starting 11, putting consistently good performances in week in week out, in a Villa team that avoided the drop and reached the FA Cup final under Tim Sherwood in the 2014/15 campaign.

Grealish showed a real sense of composure and calmness when on the ball, which lightened up the Villa Park surface from time to time.

Having started out at Villa at the age of 6, Grealish has made 34 appearances for the West Midlands club, however failed to make an impact last year, due to the winger never really getting a look-in with Rémi Garde in charge, right up until the Villains' fate was already sealed.

His ability to ghost past players will be vital when leading the Villa attack this term. Adored by the Villa Park faithful, labelled as "one of their own", Grealish could be the catalyst of Villa's romp to promotion this year.

Adama Traore

Great things were expected of the former Barcelona youngster at the Spanish club, but the 19-year-old failed to make the grade in Catalonia.

Blessed with pace, trickery and strength, the electrifying winger was a bright spark for some of the Villains' campaign last term, before sustaining an injury that saw fall heavily down Garde's pecking order.

This time around, di Matteo will be looking to use Adama's power down the flanks to full ability, reminiscent to the likes of Bakary Sako, and Thomas Ince, who both have had success at this level, and both playing the same way as the 20 year old.

 

Aaron Tshibola

The Villa Park faithful will more than likely be yet to see any of the young midfielder's talent, having made only 13 appearances for Reading.

However with di Matteo showing extreme determination to land the powerful 21-year old midfielder on a 4-year deal, the West Midlands club can look forward to seeing what the fascinating youth prospect has to bring this term.

With Ashley Westwood set to be on his way to Burnley for a fee in the region of £6million, Tshibola's energy and firepower in the middle of the park could be instrumental for all of Villa's fortunes this year.

Above all, the former Reading man will look to make a breakthrough this year, in attempt to aid his own career, as well as leading Villa to a return back to the top flight.

So...what do you think Villa fans? Will these 3 players make positive impacts on the Villains this year? Has Roberto Di Matteo done enough recruiting to take Villa back to the top? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!