Aston Villa return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday with their season still waiting for a domestic lift.
Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League win over Club Brugge finally gave Unai Emery’s side their first victory of 2026/27.
Now Villa need to transfer that momentum into the league.
They enter the weekend 17th with one point from three matches, while Forest sit one place above them on two points.
Here are five major Aston Villa talking points before kick-off at Villa Park.
Can Nicolas Jackson carry his Brugge momentum into the league?
Nicolas Jackson could hardly have chosen a better time to score his first Aston Villa goal.
The summer signing struck during the 3-2 victory over Club Brugge after Villa had failed to score in their opening three Premier League matches.
Jackson has since received significant backing from captain John McGinn, who believes the former Chelsea forward can become a huge player for Aston Villa.
Saturday now offers Jackson an opportunity to change the domestic narrative.
Villa need their new No.9 to turn encouraging movement and Champions League confidence into a first Premier League goal for the club.
Will Matty Cash return at right-back?
Right-back remains one of Emery’s biggest selection decisions.
Cash missed the Brugge victory because of muscular discomfort, although Villa initially indicated the problem was not expected to be serious.
The latest Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest team news contains the full availability picture.
Friday’s Premier League team-news guide from The Guardian did not list Cash among Villa’s injured or doubtful players.
That is encouraging, although it does not amount to official confirmation that he is available.
Emery therefore still has a call to make on the right side of his defence.
Could Johan Manzambi finally make the squad?
Johan Manzambi is another name to watch when Villa release their matchday squad.
The £59.5million summer signing is yet to make his competitive debut after suffering a knee injury with Switzerland.
He has returned to group training, but the same Guardian team-news guide continues to list him as doubtful for Saturday.
Villa do not need to rush him.
Our analysis of why Villa invested so heavily in Manzambi highlighted the numbers behind his outstanding final season at Freiburg.
Even a place on the bench against Forest would represent a significant step.
Can Emery finally solve the Oliver Glasner problem?
Forest may be winless after three league games, but Villa should not confuse that with an easy fixture.
Oliver Glasner’s system presents very different problems from those Villa encountered in Bruges.
Our Nottingham Forest tactical analysis looked at how their 3-4-2-1 can overload central areas and create opportunities for the two players operating behind the striker.
James McAtee is particularly dangerous in those spaces.
He has created eight chances from open play this season, with only Morgan Rogers producing more, as detailed in our James McAtee warning for Aston Villa.
João Gomes’ suspension makes Villa’s midfield response even more important.
Aston Villa simply have to end their Premier League goal drought
This is ultimately the biggest issue.
Villa have played three Premier League games and scored zero goals.
They lost 4-0 at Brighton, were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal and then drew 0-0 at Hull.
That leaves Emery’s side at risk of an unwanted piece of English football history if they draw another blank against Forest, as we explained in our analysis of Villa’s league goal drought.
The Brugge performance at least showed a very different attacking side.
Villa scored three times before half-time and created enough opportunities to threaten throughout the game.
Now they need to show that was the beginning of a change rather than a European exception.
Three points would transform the mood around Villa Park.
But the first requirement is even simpler.
Aston Villa need to score.
