Villa was out for half of last season with a broken leg, but is fit for the new season after making his return in a friendly against Dinamo Bucharest.

"Last year we missed him (Villa) because he's a player that guarantees goals," Vilanova told the club's official website. "He's very necessary to the side.

"I spoke with the doctors and the physios before playing him against Dinamo. It is very important for us to recover players, especially if they are well-loved like Villa is."