Aston Villa player power rankings: New signing instantly top, Emi Buendia sneaks in

Unai Emery won't be best pleased with Aston Villa's start to the season.

It's the second year in a row that the Villans have struggled to get going in the Premier League.

Thankfully, they found that winning touch before the extended international break arrived.

Aston Villa first cruised past Coventry in the Carabao Cup before beating Tottenham 3-2 in the Premier League.

It leaves Emery's men 16th in the Premier League, but looking up with new signing Johan Manzambi arriving with a bang.

With that, Villa News has started a player power rankings, with the current top five revealed below...

5 - Emi Buendia

The Argentine will admit himself that it's not been the perfect start to the season for him.

But, with things going so badly, he has stepped up to take responsibility when it was going tough.

Buendia's long-range strike at Tottenham was beautiful and a reward that work he's putting in for those around him.

With more time and consistency, he's only going one way.

4 - Nicolas Jackson

It was never going to be easy for the striker after signing.

Replacing Ollie Watkins and even Morgan Rogers, given the goals they scored together, he's had to step up immediately.

With very little support around him as well, given the responsibility thrown on young shoulders like George Hemmings, he's been a menace.

Again, his goal against Tottenham, where he bullied Jan-Paul van Hecke was proof that's only going to get better in the Premier League.

His relationship with Emery is well documented, so let's hope that match made in heaven continues.

3 - Victor Lindelof

This may be a surprise inclusion, but who would have thought that Lindelof would have played every single minute of the Premier League season so far?

Not even the Swede.

But, only has he done that, he's looked solid, outside of that opening day defeat at Brighton, but nobody was even average in that one.

Lindelof's 92.4 per cent success rate is the best passing accuracy in the entire squad in players that have started more than twice.

Nobody has been dribbled past fewer times either with his 0.2 average per game, as the Swede makes over three clearances a game, too.

It won't last forever, but right now, he's been great.

2 - Zion Suzuki

They were huge gloves to fill after Emi Martinez's exit, but he's done just that at Villa Park.

Suzuki looks sensational, not only with his commanding figure and distribution, but his simple ability to make saves.

Even when Martinez was at the top of his game, he had the tendancy to make the easy look somewhat difficult.

Only five other keepers have a higher save percentage so far, and with the makeshift team ahead of him, the Japan star should be proud.

1 - Johan Manzambi

Wow, all it took was one game.

Everybody knew that Villa were getting a superstar after the World Cup, but Manzambi has proven that in one game.

Starting against Spurs, he ran the show, picking up an assist and tapping home his first goal already.

Playing in that central role where he's allowed to drift round the park but also play as a second striker, Manzambi is going to cause real damage in the Premier League.

Long may that continue.