Unai Emery hopes to take charge of his first Aston Villa training session on Wednesday as he awaits final sign-off on his visa application.
The Spaniard agreed to succeed Steven Gerrard on October 24 but has been unable to take control as he awaits international clearance to begin work in England.
As reported first on October 26, Emery is expected to appoint Pako Ayestaran, who was a key part of Rafa Benitez’s backroom team when Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, as one of his main lieutenants.
When Villa announced they had hired Emery, they said he was expected to take over ‘from November 1.