Aston Villa and Dean Smith ready to press play on Premier League restart

Few who witnessed the 4-0 drubbing Dean Smith’s team endured at Leicester on March 9 would have given them much hope of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Yet now exactly 100 days on, Villa’s campaign will resume under markedly different conditions and mood.

“We can’t get away from it, we weren’t in a good place when the season stopped,” said Smith.

“We’ve been given a great opportunity to reset and refocus. Hopefully we can show that with the performance we give against Sheffield United.”

Smith has tried to use the three-month break to restore confidence lost during a run of five straight defeats prior to shutdown, while also seeking to fix the chronic issues - most particularly in defence - which blighted Villa’s first season back in the top flight.

Time has also been a healer for some high-profile issues from the days immediately after the Leicester defeat, which included on loan midfielder Danny Drinkwater being sent home from training following an altercation with team-mate Jota.

Villa captain Jack Grealish was then fined two weeks’ wages after being pictured breaking lockdown measures just hours after urging supporters to stay at home.

“I spoke to Jack at the time. I was disappointed with him but I was also disappointed for him,” said Smith. “But the character of Jack is to learn from this mistake and he will be a better player and a better person for it.”

Grealish has unquestionably been Villa’s player of the season and his form will be key to their chances of survival. So too will that of the fit-again John McGinn, whose absence after suffering a fractured ankle in December was keenly felt.

Smith’s primary focus, however, has been on fixing a defensive record which has seen Villa concede an average of two goals a game. The head coach also hopes his players, many of whom were experiencing their first season in English football, are now better equipped to deal with its demands.

“The video chats I had with the players during the lockdown were really productive,” said Smith. “I've learned some lessons from and I'm sure the players have too.

“It's tournament football now, 10 matches in five-and-a-half weeks which we are starting with no form, for players individually or teams. They have to create their form now. Our players have had a taste of their first season in the Premier League. They've found it tough but now they have an opportunity for their second season - so to speak.

“They are certainly in a better place physically and mentally compared to back in March.”

Just how effective Smith's work has been will only start to become clear on Wednesday. Victory over the Blades would see Villa climb three places in the table and out of the drop zone.

Survival must also be won without the vocal backing of their supporters, among whom there are no doubt mixed feelings about football's return. The loss of Smith's own father, Ron, during the pandemic provides the starkest reminder of the perspective which must be maintained.

Yet while the circumstances might seem discomfiting and strange, Smith is determined for Villa to grasp the chance they have been given. They’ve certainly had plenty of time to prepare.

"We've just got to go out and be confident in every game we play," said Smith. "What this last 13-and-a-half or 14 weeks has given us a chance to plan for the games that we've got.

"We've known our opposition in all 10 games and we've been able to plan accordingly. Results are the most important thing for us and we'll be going all out to get that win."