Throughout the course of last season, Aston Villa fans had almost nothing to get excited about.
However, after their dismal campaign last time out the rebuilding process has begun under new boss Roberto Di Matteo.
Di Matteo will be hoping to guide the club back to the Premier League at the first time has asking and has been working hard on bringing in new players to help him achieve that goal.
So far he has brought in Tommy Elphick, Pierluigi Gollini and Aaron Tshibola to inject some fresh new talent into the squad.
Villa only managed to earn 17 points throughout the whole of last season and will be hoping for a lot more to shout about throughout the forthcoming campaign.
This article takes a look at THREE players who will form the core of the team next season.....
Tommy Elphick
First comes one of the new signings at Villa Park this summer, Tommy Elphick. Elphick was signed from Premier League club Bournemouth on a three-year deal.
The 28-year-old made 142 appearances for Bournemouth throughout his time at the club scoring 5 goals, he captained Bournemouth to the Championship title in the 2014-2015 season, having also led them up from League One two seasons earlier.
He made just 14 appearances during Bournemouth's first season in the top flight because of an ankle injury.
Elphick is a leader on and off the pitch and will be a commanding figure in Villa's back line next season, as they look to make their way back into the big time at the first time of asking.
Elphick's experience of league football will be vital throughout the forthcoming campaign.
Ashley Westwood
Westwood has been a key figure in the Villa team for the past four seasons since being signed from Crewe in 2012 having made 30+ appearances in each of his seasons at Villa Park.
Westwood is a playmaker in this Villa side and his creativity and passing ability will be extremely important to helping them fight their way up the Championship table.
Villa signed the midfielder on the final day of the summer 2012 transfer window on a four year deal, and the 26-year-old has made 121 appearances for Villa.
Westwood began his career at Crewe Alexandra where he progressed through their much admired youth setup and into the first team, where he made 123 appearances scoring 14 goals.
He will be keen to fight off competition from new signing Aaron Tshibola and keep his place in the starting line up through the coming season.
Rudy Gestede
Rudy Gestede had a somewhat indifferent campaign at Aston Villa last season, he signed for Villa on 31st July 2015, penning a five year deal at Villa Park.
He made his debut as a substitute away at AFC Bournemouth, heading the winning goal in a 1–0 victory.
Another high in his season came when he scored the winner in a 1–0 League Cup victory over arch-rivals Birmingham City, however only lows seemed to follow as Villa's dismal campaign continued.
Gestede made 25 appearances in all competitions for Villa last season scoring 6 goals.
However after dropping down a division into the Championship he will be desperate to improve on his goal tally.
Gestede is a proven goalscorer at Championshp level having been highly prolific with Blackburn Rovers, in a three year spell with the club he scored 33 goals in 66 games.
In the 2014-2015 season Gestede scored 20 goals in 39 games for Rovers, this campaign led to Villa's interest in the target man.