Molde release brilliant Aston Villa report as Michael Beale comments made

Aston Villa are into a new week and finally back to Premier League action in just a couple of days.

Steven Gerrard 's side head to Leeds United for a rearranged game at Elland Road from between Christmas and the New Year before playing Newcastle United on Sunday.

Villa have not played since the January 22 defeat of Everton with the Premier League winter break and FA Cup schedule putting the brakes on matches with Gerrard's men out of the competition.

They have been keeping up to speed, though, with Brentford and Norwegian side Molde beaten at Villa Park in behind closed doors friendlies.

Villa came from behind against Brentford to win 2-1 thanks to Ollie Watkin s and Tyrone Mings but had no such trouble against Molde.

Villa raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time through Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn and Watkins before Kristoffer Haugen pulled one back for the visitors.

"A really good workout vs Molde - now back to the real action," Gerrard's assistant coach at Villa, Michael Beale, wrote on Twitter.

"Looking forward to seeing you all back at Villa Park on Wednesday for the visit of Leeds United."

Molde published a report on their website detailing their account of the game and picked out four players from the friendly.

"Steven Gerrard's men fielded a solid team, with stars such as McGinn, Buendia and Watkins on the line-up, in addition to Coutinho on the bench," Molde wrote.

"Villa went straight to the throat at Molde and it did not take long before they went up in the lead.

"The match was five minutes old when the great talent Jacob Ramsey put the ball in the longest.

"Shortly afterwards, they doubled the lead when Emi Buendía served John McGinn. Two became three midway through the first half, when Watkins stabbed