Aston Villa survival still priority for legend Nigel Spink

Villa are heading back to the top flight after three years away with supporters in optimistic mood.

The club have already made seven signings this summer and broken their transfer record with a £22million swoop for Brazilian striker Wesley Moraes, while billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have big ambitions.

But though Spink is excited for the long-term future, the European Cup-winning goalkeeper thinks Villa may initially find life back in the Premier League tough.

He said: “In many respects it is a whole new ball game for them. For three years in the Championship they went into every game expecting to win.

“That won’t be the case in the Premier League, where even clubs like Manchester United have been left behind a little bit by those at the very top.

“There will be tough weeks and everyone needs to buy a bit of time for everyone else.

“The first season is all about staying up. If they can do that, they can build from there.

“You’ve got to find 10 wins from somewhere. Do that and you will almost certainly stay up but winning games in the Premier League is tough.”

Spink believes Villa are going back into the Premier League a much stronger club than the one which fell out of it in embarrassing fashion back in 2016.

He said: “This is what we have all wanted. It has taken three years, a little longer than we hoped, but those three years have been important in changing the club.

“After relegation in 2016 they really were in Leeds territory. There was a danger of them really going down the pan and being away from the Premier League for a long, long time.

“The new owners have come in last summer and the club now seems to be on a very firm footing.”