VILLA LOOKING FOR FANS IN NORTH

TOWNSVILLE fans should get behind Aston Villa when Stephen Gerrard’s team faces up to Brisbane Roar at Queensland Country Bank Stadium next week.

That’s the message from the English Premier League club’s ambassador Ahmed Elmohamady (pictured) ahead of the pre-season friendly in Townsville on Wednesday night.

Elmohamady played 113 times for Villa as a righthtback between 2017 and d 2021 before being re- leased from his contract t in May last year.

The 34-year-old, who o has played 92 times for Egypt, returned to the club b last month in an ambassadorial al role. role

He said the people of Townsville would see some superstars of the British and international game in match two of the threeteam Queensland Champions Cup and encouraged them to support the team in claret and blue.

Villa has struggled for consistency consi in the Premier League era but was once a powerhouse in the English game, winning the old English first division seven times, the latest in 1981, and the European Cup (Champions League) a year later.

“Everyone knows Aston Villa around the world,” Elmohamady said.

“The club is one of the most famous in English football.”

Former Liverpool and England star Gerrard has brought a strong squad Down Under with some of the best-known players from world football set to line-up in Townsville.

Brazil internationals Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Luiz and Diego Carlos are in the squad, with England internationals Ollie Watkins, Tyrone Mings and Danny Ings also in the line-up alongside new signing Boubacar Kamara from France.

Villa take on Leeds United at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday before heading north to Townsville for Wednesday’s clash with the Roar at 7.45pm.