Ezri Konsa is preparing to face his old club Brentford at Villa Park on Saturday.
The defender spent just over a year at The Bees, where he made 42 appearances, before Dean Smith brought him to Aston Villa.
And Konsa is wary of his former employers after their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign.
He said: “Everyone knows that they’ve started really well with a win and a draw, so we know it’s going to be a tough game.
“They’re a newly promoted team that want to come to the Premier League and show what they’re about.
“We’ve got to prepare right and do what we need to do.”
A lot of the focus this summer has been on Villa’s attacking additions, but Konsa and the defence have also been bolstered by the arrivals of Ashley Young and Axel Tuanzebe.
According to the 23-year-old, they will add a lot of quality to a backline that shut Newcastle United out last time out.
Konsa said: “Ashley Young brings a lot of experience, a lot of trophies and we can all learn something from him.
“As for Axel, he’s another great centre half. He’s someone that I played with for England a few years ago, so I know him really well.
“It’s good for him to be here and I know how much he loves the club, and I know that he’ll give it his all.”
Watch Konsa’s full VillaTV interview below…
