Amid a tough run of form in the Premier League, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith will no doubt be desperately searching for ways to reinvigorate his squad.

The Villans head into this weekend's clash against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon off the back of three successive defeats at the hands of Tottenham, Wolves and Arsenal respectively.

The switch to a back-three has fallen apart in recent weeks, and while the returns from injury of the likes of Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore will be music to the ears of Smith and the club's fans, the Villa boss could get Villa Park rocking by unleashing Cameron Archer.

A profile piece by The Birmingham Mail back in the summer of 2019 described Archer as "one of Villa’s most highly thought of youngsters alongside Jacob Ramsey", and that he's a "livewire forward with excellent footwork and the ability to find the back of the net".

And, The Birmingham Mail's Ashley Preece added: "Genuine pace. That's Cameron Archer in a nutshell. He's short, stocky and jet-heeled. Blink and you'll miss him.

"Cam, as he's known, is a natural striker who plays off the shoulder of a defender but, in recent weeks, has been deployed on the right of a three-pronged forward line, such is his ability to beat his man one-on-one. Delaney and Smith could see his long-term future as an electrifying winger."

Archer's similar blend of speed, skill and finishing is something that has already gotten everybody's attentions behind the scenes at Villa Park, with assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare noting he made a big impression earlier this summer.

He said: "We went on a pre-season training camp and he came down and did really well - caught everyone’s eye with his enthusiasm and goal scoring ability."

With both Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings struggling to work as a tandem - the former has managed just one goal all season while the latter has bagged just three - Archer's introduction on the scene could light a fire in both and help them to rediscover their form as well knowing there is fierce competition for places.

Archer has been an absolute revelation this season for Villa's academy sides, scoring 12 goals in just 9 games in all competitions, including scoring four in two Carabao Cup games for Smith.

Those performances at senior level surely gave the Villa boss some food for thought, and given the fact he's come through the academy system too, he'll have automatically have the fans' backing.

Smith could get the home crowd on board by giving Archer a chance in the top-flight.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has delivered some behind-the-scenes insight...