A work in progresspublished at 15:15 BST
15:15 BST
Aston Villa v Fenerbahce (Wed, 20:00 BST)
Laura Kenyon
BBC Final Score reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The North Stand – currently closed for building work – has become a symbol of Aston Villa’s current position: under construction. Unai Emery’s side are a work in progress.
The spine of the side that won the Europa League has since departed but there are signs of a new team beginning to build.
Villa are yet to replicate anywhere near the form we saw at times last season. But they display encouraging signs of renovation.
Zion Suzuki – the first Japanese goalkeeper to play in the Champions League – was a commanding presence against Brentford.
Nicolas Jackson is showing signs he could be the prolific striker Villa fans hoped he would be when replacing Ollie Watkins and becoming a club record signing.
The builders perched on the scaffolding, wearing hard hats and high-vis, had the best seat in the house to observe those performances.
There is a long way to go. The new stand is far from finished but will the new-look Villa squad be closer to a final product come their next home game?