Dean Smith's newest signing, Ross Barkley slotted right into Aston Villa's starting XI during their 7-2 demolition of the reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.
A slight tactical tweak from Smith saw Villa stray away from their beloved 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, which saw John McGinn sit a little deeper than usual in a double pivot with Douglas Luiz - this allowed Barkley to occupy the '10' role further up the pitch.
Last season all eyes were on Jack Grealish to make things happen for Villa, that weight is now somewhat lifted off his shoulders as Barkley's energy and vision make the task of creating and scoring goals for Villa.
Barkley netted against his bitter rivals in the form of a deflected shot which beat Adrian, but this didn't stop Grealish from getting in and amongst the goals as the captain scored two and assisted three.
Having another creative outlet such as Barkley will only help Villa progress. Last night against Liverpool, Barkley had six shots, two of which were on target, and made 26 passes throughout the 90 minutes he featured in.
These numbers in isolation may not seem impressive when compared to Grealish's numbers from last season, it must now be considered that Villa are no longer a one-man team.
Midfield options
Possessing another midfielder who can run at pace with the ball at his feet, pick out a pass and score a goal will be vital throughout the season as Villa look to push up the table.
Grealish's feelings were made clear as soon as Barkley was announced, with the club sharing a video of Grealish greeting him with a warm embrace in the dressing room of Bodymoor Heath.
After what was an impressive debut for Barkley and another amazing performance from Grealish - the two will look to continue their form after the international break and improve upon the partnership which saw Villa receive the fruits of their labour for a wholehearted performance against the reigning champions of English football - there's plenty more to come from Jack Grealish, Ross Barkley and Aston Villa.