Unai Emery promotes seven Aston Villa academy players to first-team training - report

Unai Emery promoted seven Aston Villa academy players to first-team training this week as the Spaniard assesses the club's young stars.

With the World Cup underway, training at Bodymoor Heath is looking rather thin, with a number of players still away on international duty.

In an attempt to even out the numbers - and take a glimpse at some promising stars - Emery has invited seven youngsters to join his training sessions.

Birmingham Mail revealed that Kadan Young, Arjan Raikhy, Lamare Bogarde, Josh Feeney, Tommi O’Reilly, James Wright and Filip Marschall were all spotted in training.

A number of those youngsters could be involved for Aston Villa during the club's friendly against Cardiff City on Wednesday evening.

Academy gems

While many Villa fans will enjoy watching the club's four World Cup stars in action over in Qatar, there's also plenty of excitement to be found in the club's friendly matches this week.

Emery will be looking to keep up the momentum around the club in order to pick up where they left off when the Premier League resumes on Boxing Day with a tough fixture against Liverpool.

In order to maintain fitness and sharpness, Villa are set to play a number of friendly matches in the coming weeks, starting with the Cardiff clash.

But while first-team players will be given the chance to enjoy a run-out, it's also a great chance for Emery to test some younger players in a match environment.

The Spaniard will be looking to improve his squad with some January signings in the New Year, but he could also unearth a young gem that may be ready to make the step up to the first team.

In other Aston Villa news, the club must capitalise on the Phillippe Coutinho transfer interest coming out of Brazil