Aston Villa have a nice dilemma over their midfield selection

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It’s a nice problem to have, but Aston Villa boss Dean Smith could be left with a tough puzzle to solve when it comes to his midfield selection.

The Midlands giants are preparing for life back in the Premier League after earning promotion via the Championship play-offs last season.

They have been extremely busy in the summer transfer window to try boost their chances of survival and one of their most intriguing areas of the pitch comes in the centre of the park.

Smith preferred to use a three-man midfield during the last campaign and it looks like he will stick to that, as they could need an extra body battling against some of the elite Premier League teams.

Villa captain Jack Grealish looks a no-brainer to take up a regular spot in the XI, while the impact of left-footed workhorse John McGinn can’t be understated since his arrival.

That pair look favourite to make up part of the midfield, which would leave one position to slot in alongside them or perhaps just behind them in a deeper role.

Conor Hourihane played an important role in promotion last season and he’s a familiar face to complete the midfield combination.

The 28-year-old offers a decent attacking threat, but can sit in front of the back four as a deep-lying playmaker.

But he’s never played in the top-flight before and he could face competition from two new additions.

Douglas Luiz is the second candidate that should be vying to line up next to McGinn and Grealish.

21-year-old Brazilian Luiz cost Villa £15million (BBC) to sign this summer and it would be bold to put him straight on the bench.

He’s someone that impressed last season in La Liga with Girona and is highly-rated.

Villa also signed Marvelous Nakamba from Club Brugge and the defensive midfielder could be the perfect anchor to sit in front of the defence.

Sky Sports report it’s cost more than £11million to sign him and the 25-year-old impressed during his time in Belgium.

Hourihane appears to be the frontrunners of the trio to start in the first Premier League game against Tottenham, but Smith is going to be left with a headache over selection moving forward.