Injured Villans return

STEVEN DAVIS believes Aston Villa have been given a pre-season lift by the return to fitness of Martin Laursen and Patrik Berger. Danish defender Laursen and Czech midfielder Berger made just 10 appearances between them last season due to injury.

But the pair returned for pre-season training last week and Davis said: “They’re quality players and it is a boost to have them back. We need that competition. It pushes every player and it can only be good for the squad.”

Davis said he hopes Villa can make a flying start to the season, even though it starts against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium: “We need to show we mean business early on.”