PREMIER League giants Aston Villa are to send a team to the Camrose for a pre-season friendly.

The Birmingham club, who finished sixth in the top flight last season, will play Basingstoke Town on Sunday, July 18 (kick-off 2pm).

The team is down as an Aston Villa XI but Town boss Frank Gray expects to see some familiar faces in the visitors’ line-up and is looking forward to the game.

“They cannot say exactly who they will bring until nearer the time but they have said that there will be some experienced players playing,” Gray said.

“There will be first team squad players, it’s just a case of who needs minutes on the pitch.

“It’s a good game for us. They will probably bring a few fans down and Villa’s supporters in the south might come to watch as well so I would like to think that there will be a good crowd.

“Playing on Sunday suits them better and it’s probably not a bad thing.

“If we get good weather it will be a good day out for people.”

In other news, Tom Williamson has become the latest Basingstoke player to sign up for another season at the Camrose.

The former Leicester, Grays and Bishop’s Stortford midfielder joined Basingstoke in 2008 and has been named players’ player-of-the-year for the last two years.

Gray is confident that fellow central midfielder Steve Laidler will also put pen to paper on a new deal in the near future, while the search for a holding player to complement these two continues.

The manager said: “We are pleased to have Tom back.

“He and Steve played well together, especially with a third player in there with them. We cannot rely on both of them being fit and available all season though and that is why we are looking to make sure we have enough numbers in central midfield.”