Premier League preview: Aston Villa v Everton

Aston Villa’s Charles N’Zogbia has conceded he must contribute more in the front third as his side brace for Saturday’s meeting with Everton.

Frenchman N’Zogbia played 24 matches for Villa in the English Premier League last season, scoring two goals and contributing four assists.

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder believes he can do a lot more for his team up front this season.

“I definitely need to be getting a few more goals and a few more assists, that would be good,” N’Zogbia said.

“The thing I’ve got in my mind is just to play my best, to show my skills and that would be a good start.”

Villa finished 16th last season and started the new campaign with a 1-0 defeat away to West Ham.

New manager Paul Lambert will be disappointed with his side’s failure to score having had 66 percent of possession at Upton Park.

Lambert selected Darren Bent, Stephen Ireland, new signing Brett Holman and N’Zogbia as the main attacking threats in his line-up and although Villa managed 13 shots to West Ham’s eight, the visitors from Birmingham only hit the target twice.

Lambert’s Everton counterpart, David Moyes, will be thrilled with his side’s opening-round result after they defeated Manchester United 1-0 on Monday.

Everton will head to Villa Park hoping they can build some momentum after their victory at home over United.

Moyes’ side have not won more than three of their opening 10 matches of a league season since 2007/08, and the Scot is desperate to change that this time around.

“We haven’t started recent seasons very well and even tonight’s result doesn’t tell you we have started the season well, just as if we had lost tonight, we wouldn’t have said we’d started the season badly,” Moyes said.

“I think you judge how you have started a season after 10 games.

“I’ve tried just about everything to try and get off to a good start and we tried something else this year.”

Moyes has a couple of injury concerns leading into Saturday’s game with striker Nikica Jelavic and defender Sylvain Distin picking up knocks against the Red Devils.