FIVE-POINT PLAN

1 “JACK WHO?”

Nah mate, never heard of him. Forward- comb his ridiculous fringe to hide his face, get some oversized shin pads to cover his whole body ( and his entire shins, for once), do whatever it takes... Deny all knowledge of Jack Grealish whenever those pesky ‘ Super League suitors’ come knocking. If you could discreetly eclipse those six goals and 10 assists though please, Super Jack, it can just be our special secret.

2 PREPARE FOR A DEAR JOHN LETTER

A photo of John Terry posing proudly with his UEFA Pro Licence certificate has only fuelled those rumours linking him with every managerial vacancy going. Terry remains an integral part of the Villa revolution, but it’s only a matter of time before JT goes it alone. Having recruited Craig Shakespeare last summer, Dean Smith might need to evolve his backroom team once again.

3 WITTON’S GOT TALENT

Do it sensibly, but it would be very nice to see some of Villa’s FA Youth Cup- winning whippersnappers, such as Carney Chukwuemeka and Louie Barry, benefit from some more first- team action, following Jacob Ramsey’s encouraging breakthrough of 619 Premier League minutes last term.

4 YOUNG AND OLD

What will Ashley Young offer in his claret and blue sequel? Twenty- one the first time he signed for Villa from Watford in 2007, he’s now in his mid- 30s and easily the oldest player at the club. Inter’s 2020- 21 Serie A winner is cover for full- backs Matt Targett and Matty Cash and a wing deputy, but could he give the wide boys a run for their money in his Holte End hurrah?

5 SET( PIECE) THE RECORD STRAIGHT

A team with the country’s most- fouled player should be scoring more from dead- ball situations. But for all the set- piece scepticism, Villa were actually in the Premier League’s top eight for goals scored from corners and free- kicks last season, with 11. That’s not to say they can’t be much deadlier to close in on West Ham’s 16 goals. Get practising.