Stewart Downing probably couldn't have enjoyed a more positive full Villa debut.
The wing wonder was the star of the show as the Claret and Blue crushed Portsmouth and clinched a Carling Cup semi-final place.
Downing even managed to net on his first start for the club and he will go into tomorrow's clash with Hull with his confidence at an all time high.
Nobody could say that the former Middlesbrough man doesn't deserve his recent success. He has battled back from a long term foot injury consequently waited too long to put on a Villa shirt.
But, that absence is almost forgotten now after his whirlwind display at Fratton Park and he will hope for more of the same in his inaugural home appearance if selected.
Should Downing start, he will come up against a man, who has had injury problems that eclipse those of many a Premiership player.
Rejuvenated midfield maestro Jimmy Bullard has come back with a bang and his reappearance has really lifted Phil Brown's Tigers side.
The curly haired creator scored a dramatic equaliser at Manchester City last weekend and proceeded to illustrate his off-field impact at the club.
Entertainers
Bullard slotted the spot kick home and then mimicked Brown's half-time on pitch team talk at Eastlands last season in front of the travelling Tigers faithful. It was a minute long microcosm of the irrepressible nature of the player and he is definitely something special.
Downing is of course a different sort of talent. He is far more reserved behind the scenes and prefers to do his talking on the field of play.
He was just as big a signing for Villa as Bullard was for Hull and both men are certainly looking like value for money.
They will both aim to pay a another slice of their fees back at Villa Park tomorrow and, rest assured, there will be a real battle for the spotlight between two of football's real entertainers.
Both are set to start the game but two men who may not make it are James Collins and John Carew.
Collins has missed the last month with a groin and calf problems, while the bg Norwegian striker is struggling with a hamstring strain.
Carew is the more likely man to return but he may have to settle for a place on the Villa bench after Emile Heskey impressed at Pompey on Tuesday.