Aston Villa manager Dean Smith will face some selection dilemmas this season after the club's heavy spending in the summer, according to journalist Luke Hatfield.
What did Hatfield say about Villa?
The Premier League outfit spent almost £90m in the recent transfer window, as they added Emiliano Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings to their squad.
Hatfield has admitted that he admires the way that Villa have rebuilt their side following the departure of Jack Grealish, but he believes that Smith is now left with the unenviable task of getting all of his best players into the starting XI.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Hatfield stated: “It’s tough to squeeze all these players in. Villa have a real conundrum to deal with that now. Dean Smith has obviously got plenty of players who have come in, he’s got players who have shown form like Anwar El Ghazi for example, who have been around for a while and they’re going to be starting off the bench.
“So, I think Villa have been very smart in building their squad. They’ve got more balance than they did last season with Grealish going.”
How have Villa fared so far this season?
It has been a mixed start for Smith's men in the opening weeks of the season. They are yet to pick up a point in their away games, having conceded three times in each of their matches against Watford and Chelsea.
Their home form has been far better, though, as they have swatted aside Newcastle and Everton, while also picking up a point against Brentford.
The Villans have collected seven points from their five top-flight matches, meaning that they currently occupy 10th place in the table.
How Thomas Tuchel OUTCLASSED Nuno! Full tactical analysis on The Football Terrace...
Which players are staking their claim for a starting berth?
Given that Villa's three high-profile signings all play in attacking positions, it is no surprise that this is the area of the pitch where there is the most competition for places this term.
Bailey is yet to start a game in the top-flight since joining from Bayer Leverkusen, but he made a major impact off the bench on Saturday, as he scored a fine goal in the side's 3-0 win over Everton. It will be hard for Smith to overlook him if he continues to perform like that.
It should also be noted that Buendia has not featured in either of the side's last two matches after having to quarantine upon his return from South America. He should be back in the mix for this weekend's trip to Manchester United, though, and the prospect of Buendia and Bailey starting together is one that will excite Villa's supporters.