A run of eight Premier League defeats from nine saw former Watford midfielder Tim Sherwood sacked by Aston Villa and replaced by former Arsenal defender Remi Garde at the end of October.

A 2-1 loss against Swansea City at Villa Park saw Sherwood removed from his post after failing to carry the momentum of last season into this.

Sherwood provided the lift required last season to move the Villans clear of the relegation zone after succeeding Paul Lambert as manager whilst also delivering an FA Cup Final appearance.

But Villa were battered by Arsenal at Wembley and despite a 1-0 win at Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, find themselves propping up the table after 13 games.

Admittedly the former Blackburn Rovers captain was not helped by the losses of Christian Benteke, Fabian Delph, Tom Cleverley and Ron Vlaar over the summer. But the recruitment of 13 players which followed – albeit with the assistance of a transfer committee – was disastrous.

Garde, who has previous managerial experience with French side Lyon, is the man charged with keeping Villa up.

The 49-year-old was in the directors’ box at Tottenham Hotspur after being appointed as Kevin MacDonald took charge of the side as caretaker for a 3-1 loss.

Garde’s first game in charge was a goalless draw at home to Manchester City before a 4-0 thumping at Everton last weekend.

Here we profile three Villa players who could make the difference against Watford.

Watford Observer:

Micah Richards: The former Manchester City defender was linked with the Hornets over the summer before completing his Premier League return after a year on loan at Fiorentina by joining Villa on a four-year deal.

Richards rejected the offer of a long-term deal to remain with City last summer in favour of moving to Florence on loan for the season and the final year of his contract with the Citizens.

However, games were few and far between once coach Vincenzo Montella switched to three at the back and Richards made a total of seven Serie A starts for La Viola.

With his contract at City up, the 27-year-old England international joined Villa on a free transfer and was immediately installed as first team captain – Gabriel Agbonlahor is club captain - at the heart of Villa’s defence.

Watford Observer:

Scott Sinclair: The pacey winger is a former teammate of Richards’ at Manchester City who, like the defender, grew tired of a lack of first team opportunities.

Snapped up from Swansea City by the then City boss Roberto Mancini in 2012, Sinclair would make just two Premier League starts for the Citizens in three years.

Loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Villa followed before the former Chelsea youngster opted to join the Villans on a permanent basis this summer.

Six goals from 12 starts in all competitions is a good return for the left-sider but only two of those – both against Sunderland in a 2-2 draw – have come in the league.

Watford Observer:

Rudy Gestede: The powerful forward was a target for Watford before Quique Sanchez Flores ended any chance of a move for the former Blackburn Rovers targetman upon his arrival.

Twenty league goals in the Championship for Rovers last season saw Sherwood spend £6 million to bring the Benin international to Villa Park and he was immediately rewarded with a debut goal in the 1-0 win at Bournemouth on the opening day.

League starts have been scarce, though, with Gestede more often used from the substitutes’ bench. He has still managed three league goals in just six top flight starts.

Brought to England in 2011 by former Hornets boss Malky Mackay when he was in charge of Cardiff, Gestede flourished after a move to Blackburn Rovers and scored 32 times in just 50 league starts for the Ewood Park outfit.