Pellegrini sends out first team signals

Manuel Pellegrini looks to be getting closer to sorting out his first team with some possibly significant signs coming from the team’s most competitive match so far at Preston yesterday (Sat).

It’s still far too early to make  hard and fast judgements and Chicharito’s return will change things up front as of course will record signing Felipe Anderson  but the boss made fewer changes to the starting line-up yesterday than at any point so far this pre season.

Pablo Zabaleta’s absence until the 79th minute when he appeared on the LEFT side for Arthur Masuaku suggests that Ryan Fredericks is close to nailing down the right back role and was highly impressive.

And there was some surprise when it was £21 million signing Issa Diop whom the boss chose to make way for Angelo Ogbonna in the 79th minute rather than Declan Rice who played through the 90  – an encouraging sign for the 19 year old as his contract talks continue.

Exciting Nathan Holland got 25 minutes as a sub for Jack Wilshere and Saed Haksabanovic played the whole of the second half whilst the boss took a 10 minute look at Toni Martinez near the end.

Also possibly significant was that Robert Snodgrass was involved throughout, confirming reports we had from Switzerland earlier that he had been impressing the manager.

We keenly await the line-up for Villa on Wednesday night however, before starting to draw hard and fast conclusions.

THE LINE UP: Adrian, Fredericks, Diop (Ogbonna 79), Rice, Masuaku (Zaba 79), Obiang, Noble, Yarmolenko ( Holland 65), Wilshere (Haksabanovich 46), Snodgrass, Arnautovic.