Not exactly a flurry of transfer activity for Villa on deadline day, but in the context of what has been a largely frustrating and deflating summer, three deals finalised in a matter of hours can be deemed busy.

The question is – were they the right deals, and is Villa’s squad actually better off following the additions of Jermaine Jenas, Alan Hutton and Enda Stevens?

The immediate impression is yes, with Hutton and Jenas the obvious replacements for Luke Young and Jean Makoun, who departed Villa Park shortly before transfer deadline day. Like for like, Villa have – in my opinion – upgraded here. I’ve always liked Young as a right-back, but the last couple of seasons have been mixed for him; in and out of the side in Martin O’Neill’s final season, hampered by niggling injuries during the last campaign. At 32 years of age, he was entering the final year of his contract, those injuries weren’t likely to suddenly heal up (he was injured during the 3-1 victory against Blackburn and had to be substituted) and it was oft reported that he hankered after a return to his London roots. QPR offered the perfect solution.

In Hutton, Villa have a strong successor. He’s 26 years old, so significantly younger than Young, and likely to retain a transfer value even in four years time. He’s a robust, solid player who’s not lightening fast, but no cumbersome slouch either, and, from what I saw of him at Spurs last season, has the ability to tank forward.

He’ll do for me.

As for Jenas, his signing, on a season-long loan, is more contentious. I don’t think he’s ever lived up to the promise he showed as a youngster at Nottingham Forest, when the late Sir Bobby Robson brought him to Newcastle. Consistently in and around the England squad in the days of Sven Goran Eriksson, Jenas’ career has stalled and stagnated somewhat in recent seasons at Spurs. Marginalised by the arrival of Wilson Palacios and the emergence of Tom Huddlestone, his opportunities at Spurs became limited, and I suppose the arrival of Scott Parker (slightly overrated though I think he is) meant Harry Redknapp was happy to let him go.

And I’m happy to see him at Villa. Mostly because our central midfield is wafer thin and crying out for reinforcements: Nigel Reo-Coker, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Hogg and Makoun have all left the club since the end of last season. Jenas is certainly a ‘better’ footballer than Reo-Coker and has a more athletic, dynamic presence than Makoun – but my concern is, and I’ll wager it’s shared by more than a few other Villa fans – is that, overall, has the Villa team really taken a step forwards following a summer heavy on selling and releasing players and light on bringing new ones in? My suspicion is that what we’re actually doing is little more than standing still.

Finally, to Stevens, our lowest-profile signing of the summer. I know little of him, other than he’s a 21-year-old currently playing for Shamrock Rovers, who have of course qualified for the Europa League, and that he won’t be joining us until January. Which probably suits both us and Rovers. With the Irish side drawn against Spurs in Europe, I’ll make sure I watch those matches, so I’ll get to form an impression of him before he reports at Villa Park.

Oh, yes – one more thing. Enda can apparently play either left-back or centre-back, which certainly ticks one huge box for Alex McLeish. Villa, I feel, are right in the market for multi-tasking players in these days of squad ‘reshaping’.

Welcome to Villa, lads – and good luck.

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