Emery admits the new faces can’t stay on the bench for much longer after another five-goal thriller in Brugge

After three games without a goal in the league, Aston Villa travelled to Belgium on Tuesday and bagged three goals inside the first half alone, eventually winning 3-2 in a Champions League opener that had it all.

John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Nicolas Jackson, in that order, gave Unai Emery the start to the group stage that he needed after this dry spell in the domestic league.

But it’s off the ball that Emery has chosen to utilise the experience of his more familiar faces this season rather than the deluge of new faces that have been added to the mix at Villa Park this summer.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka replaced a tired Matty Cash, while Joao Gomes played due to completing his domestic suspension and Jackson started on his back of an historic spell with Emery and his recent form, repeating the pattern set in the previous games.

However, Emery was also aware that the current approach isn’t a sustainable one, as he revealed to BBC Sport after the game. “I am so happy today. Thankfully, because we know how we are in the way. What the responsibility we have and I have. But the players as well they have responsibility.

They need to keep our standards high to show everybody this is the way that we can achieve the process in our targets and, of course, we are improving after Brighton, after Arsenal, after Hull City. Today another step forward.”

Villa’s resilience in a tricky second half also gave Emery scope to show his pride in the team’s progression. “Collectively, tactically, the structure, individually, this victory is through it and, of course, we must work hard. It is the only way. This is the process that we must try to set strong standards. Today we did one very important step forward to show it and be resilient in the second half when we were struggling.”

Emery was also quick to underline the value of the three points for the Champions League. “Of course, very important for this Champions League to start with those three points. Hopefully, it gives us confidence for the next matches in the league. Saturday Nottingham Forest, then Carabao Cup, then Tottenham.”

He paid particular tribute to the importance of Jackson’s goal to his personal development. “Nicolas Jackson very important for him. Progressively getting minutes with some players, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, after the injury of Cash it was very important, but he was so tired.”

Emery’s comments about Hemmings’ recent displays were perhaps the most illuminating of all, hinting that he may have to start looking at alternatives to his usual starting XI. “Again, a good match played Hemmings, again he is improving. We must try to add more players, new players in this structure, this demand and this process we are.”

Saturday’s trip to face Nottingham Forest is unlikely to see Emery shake up his starting XI, given his approach to the league game, but there is an opportunity in the EFL Cup third-round tie against Coventry City for him to blood Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and Ibrahim Mbaye before the international break in September arrives.