Tommy Elphick: Anything less than Aston Villa promotion would be a failure

Just one win in the first eight fixtures means Roberto Di Matteo's team headed into Saturday's game with Newcastle 18th in the table and Elphick concedes the slow start has left them playing catch-up in the promotion race.

But the skipper sees plenty of reason for encouragement in an ever-improving atmosphere at Bodymoor Heath and believes the arrival of nine new players during the summer transfer window has left the club well placed to challenge.

"I believe 100 per cent in the talent we have in the dressing room," he said. "This place is now totally different to the one I walked into on the first day of pre-season.

"I believe we have the best squad and the best staff in the league but it is going to take time for everything to come together. We were always going to be playing catch-up."

A summer of change at Villa began with Tony Xia's £76.2million takeover and Elphick then became Di Matteo's first signing, in a £3million switch from Bournemouth, following the Italian's appointment as manager.

The 29-year-old skippered the Cherries to their promotion from the Championship in 2015 and having now dropped down from the top flight, is eager to get back quickly with his new club.

"I was sold on the pretence we are going straight back up and I want to be part of a project which gets this club back to where it belongs," he said. "For us, if we didn't go up this season, it would be a failure.

"Looking at the bigger picture this club has changed from day one this season. We have the right characters in place, whether it is this season or if we have to wait a little bit.

"I think we have to be patient in the short-term. It is still a team coming together, still a team getting to know each other but all I can say is the performances have been there.

"The spark I have needed to see, to believe we will be up near the top of the table, has been there. I just think it is a matter of time before we get on a winning run."

He went on: "Once that momentum gets rolling it will only get bigger and we need to do this together. No-one is going to do this on their own. Wins bring people together and we want to do that sooner rather than later."

Newcastle were the only team with shorter odds to win the title at the start of the season than Villa but the Magpies have not had things all their own way, losing three of their own opening eight games.

Elphick believes victory over Rafa Benitez's team could provide Villa with a significant psychological boost.

"I think it would give everyone a lift, any win does that," he said. "Ultimately that is what brings people together quicker, the winning, when you are enjoying that feeling of working in a winning team it makes it a whole lot easier.

"We have always been compared to Newcastle this season so, psychologically, it could give us a bigger lift yes."