Last Updated: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:17
Alex McLeish claims Aston Villa's three-match summer tour of the United States will represent 'a new dawn' for the club.
The Villa chief spoke out after it was confirmed that the club will venture across the Atlantic for around ten days in the second half of July to take in three matches against some Major League Soccer sides in the build up to the new Premier League season in August.
The first match will be against Philadelphia Union on July 18 at PPL Stadium, before Villa travel to take on MLS club Chicago Fire on July 21 at Toyota Park. The side will complete the trip with a friendly against Portland Timbers on July 24 at JELD-WEN Field.
Villa released a statement to say the tour was part of a 'continued drive to push Villa in key frontiers' following last summer's Asia Trophy tour in Hong Kong.
And, McLeish added: "The competition will be good and the facilities top-class, so this will be great preparation when the time comes for the season ahead," said McLeish.
"We're not taking our eyes off the immediate challenge by any means and our focus is very much on this weekend's game against Chelsea at Villa Park.
"But it's heartening to see a glimpse of the new dawn on the horizon and this tour will be one that everybody at the club can look forward to."
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