Villa in positive STATE of mind for tour

VILLA'S third consecutive preseason tour of the USA is now under way.

- By JOHN TOWNLEY

Villa will head to Louisville for today’s match at Lynn Family Stadium against Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished third in the Bundesliga last season.

The German side will, of course, be without Hugo Ekitike, after the forward completed a £79 million move to Liverpool earlier this week.

The Birmingham Mail's John Townley touched down in the States late Wednesday evening as we bring you coverage of the club’s tour across Nashville, Louisville and St Louis.

Finally, a dose of positivity

There is no avoiding the fact the last two months have been frustrating for Villa fans - and those in the boardroom, too.

Ideally, Villa's ambitious owners would open their purse strings and splash the cash to boost the club's chances of returning to the Champions League next season.