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Tommy Elphick: Aston Villa can make immediate Premier League return

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New man Tommy Elphick believes Villa can secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

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The defender has identified getting back to the top flight as his No.1 priority after completing a £3million switch from Bournemouth. Villa won just three league games as they finished rock bottom of the table last season and new boss Roberto Di Matteo is likely to overhaul much of the current squad.

But Elphick, who captained the Cherries to their Championship title win last May, reckons they can cope with the 'relentless' second tier.

"Psychologically it is hard to keep going," he said. "But I believe when you look around the changing room, even at the players we have got in this present moment, we have enough to do it."

Villa have officially confirmed the departures of Eric Black and Tony Parks. Black finished last season as the club's caretaker manager, while Parks was hired as goalkeeping coach by former boss Tim Sherwood.