Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill was happy to include several youngsters in his squad for this week's preseason camp in Switzerland.
The Villa boss told the club's website: "We are taking some young lads out there and that would always have been the case - whether our squad was up to full strength or not.
"That's what we did last year. I like the younger players to get a bit of experience with the first-team so that it's not as daunting when they eventually do come through.
"So we are taking a few out. Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso are coming out and Shane Lowry would have joined us but he's injured at the moment.
"We're going to take young Elliott Parish out as well as back-up to Stuart Taylor, but we are hoping to resolve the goalkeeping situation pretty soon. In the meantime the experience won't do the young lad any harm."