Aston Villa players began returning to Bodymoor Heath on Monday morning as preparations for the new season got underway. A group of players reported to the club’s training ground this week, although those who represented their countries during the June international period aren’t expected back until next week. Villa’s media team released images of several players who were back at Bodymoor on Monday, while some players also posted pictures on their social media accounts. Among the players in training were Jacob Ramsey , Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, Andres Garcia, Joe Gauci, Alex Moreno, Lamare Bogarde, and Tyrone Mings. The photos showed the players arriving at Bodymoor, working on the bikes in the gym, and later completing cardio exercises out on the grass. Villa’s first pre-season fixture is next Wednesday against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium (7:30pm kick-off). Then, on Saturday, Villa travel to Germany to face Hansa Rostock (3:00pm kick-off), before Unai Emery’s squad heads out to the United States. Their U.S. tour begins with a match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Louisville at midnight UK time on Sunday, July 27, followed by a game against St. Louis City SC, kicking off at 1:30am UK time on Thursday, July 31. Villa’s final match in the U.S. will be against Nashville SC, kicking off at 1:00am UK time on Sunday, August 3. Upon returning to the UK, Villa will face AS Roma at the Bescot Stadium on Wednesday, August 6 (7:30pm kick-off). Two more friendlies are scheduled for the final weekend before the Premier League season begins, with the squad likely to split into two groups. One team will play Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday, August 9 (6:00pm kick-off), while the other faces Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Sunday, August 10 (8:00pm kick-off).