Aston Villa will be playing their football in the Sky Bet Championship next season following their disastrous relegation from the Premier League during the 2015/16 campaign.
The supporters of the club will be desperate to see their team get back to winning ways this season after a highly disappointing campaign last time around, in which they collected just 17 points from their 38 games.
Champions League winning manager Roberto Di Matteo is the man tasked with reviving the club’s fortunes and he will look to use all of his managerial skills to ensure that the Villains have a short stay in the Championship.
The Italian manager will be looking to assemble a squad of players who can adapt quickly to life in the Championship, whilst also looking to utilise some of the club’s current crop also.
Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at three players who will dictate Aston Villa’s 2016/17 campaign.
Jack Grealish
The tricky winger will be hoping to kick start his career next season, after failing to play much of a role in the first-team last season.
The youngster played just 16 times in the Premier League last season and at one point was forced to train with the reserves under former boss Remi Garde.
The 20-year-old is one of the brightest young prospects in the game when he is on his best form and Villa will be hoping that he can become one of the Championship’s standout performers in 2016/17.
Jordan Amavi
The French left-back could be a top player for Aston Villa next season if the club can persuade him to stick at Villa Park for another season.
The 22-year-old only played a handful of games last season before picking up a cruel knee ligament injury whilst playing for France’s under-21s, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Amavi is now fully recovered from the injury and given that is Aston Villa career is yet to really get going, he may choose to stay loyal to the club and help them in their promotion quest.
Ciaran Clark
If Aston Villa are serious about an instant return to the Premier League then they will need to ensure that they have solid foundations at the back.
Clark is still relatively young and there is a real sense that the 26-year-old can become a big player for Villa next season in the Championship.
The centre-back will return late to pre-season training after featuring for Republic of Ireland in Euro 2016, but the Villa academy graduate could be massive for the club in 2016/17.
Aston Villa fans, do you think these three players will be important for the club next season? Is there another member of the squad who you think will be more important? Let us know in the comments below!!!