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Nicklas Helenius wasted no time helping Villa banish Benteke-gate for a while as the claret and blues kicked off pre-season with a draw at SV Rodinghausen.

Helenius headed Villa in front eight minutes into his debut after coming on at the start of the second-half for Paul Lambert’s new look cosmopolitan squad.

But Villa were unable to start their three match German tour with a victory because Soren Siek curled in a free-kick equaliser for their lower league hosts.

Lambert’s team eased their way into their pre-season programme during a low key first 45 minutes in their opening friendly at Hacker Wiehenstadion.

Marc Albrighton, back from a broken foot, came closest to breaking the deadlock when he forced keeper Jan Schonwalder into a reflex save.

The chance arrived midway through the first period when Joe Bennett swung over a teasing ball from the left at Albrighton’s low stop was blocked.

From Albrighton’s corner, debutant Leandro Bacuna was left unmarked, but the Dutch midfielder failed to direct his glancing header on target.

The German lower league team did threaten just before the interval when Brad Guzan denied Marius Krause after the striker burst through.

Villa boss Lambert used the practice match at the remote venue to give most of his travelling party their first run out of the summer.

While the Benteke situation was rumbling on back home and in Belgium, Lambert preferred to focus fully on the players who want to be at Villa.

Darren Bent, Shay Given, Barry Bannan, Stephen Ireland, Alan Hutton and Nathan Delfouneso were all left behind as they look for new clubs.

But all of his six signings appeared on the squad list for the first friendly of the three match tour providing a first glimpse of new look Villa.

He introduced two new boys from the start, giving Bacuna and Aleksandar Tonev debuts in central midfield and on the left wing respectively.

With Benteke and Bent missing and Helenius on the bench, Jordan Bowery was the spearhead of the attack as Villa started of with a 4-3-3 formation.

Fresh from signing his new four-year contract, first choice keeper Guzan played behind central defensive pairing Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker and full-back Chris Herd and Bennett.

It was a slightly flat first period despite a 1,000-plus crowd, including around 100 Villa fans, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

After the break, Villa who changed their complete line-up for the second half, were able to exert more pressure on their opponents.

Jed Steer replaced Guzan in goal, while fellow newcomers Jores Okore, Antonio Luna and Helenius also got a taste of the action.

Matt Lowton was at right-back, Okore and Ciaran Clark in the centre with Luna at left-back. In midfield Gary Gardner played alongside Karim El Ahmadi and Ashley Westwood.

Up front, Helenius was the main focal point, supported from the right by Andi Weimann and the left by Gabby Agbonlahor.

Helenius nodded them in front on 53 minutes, getting across his marker to direct the ball in from close range after Lowton whipped over a teasing ball from the right.

Villa felt they should have had a penalty when Clark appeared to have been tripped after quick feet from Helenius carved open the SV Rodinghausen defence.

But the referee played on and from the very next passage of play the Germans were level after taking full advantage of a rapid counter attack.

Jores Okore was penalised for tripping a forward and Siek expertly placed his free-kick agonisingly out of the reach of goalkeeper Steer.

The former Norwich youngster’s first task was to pick the ball out of the net but he made a late save to ensure Villa avoided a defeat.

Steer stuck out a foot to deny a German attacker from a one-on-one raid in the closing stages and preserve the 1-1 scoreline.

For Villa it was definitely a case of gradually easing into action against a well-drilled team from the German fifth tier.

Lambert will be more concerned about the extra fitness his players gained rather than the scoreline ahead of tomorrow’s next test against Paderborn.

There was a worry for the Villa manager in the closing stages when Okore limped off with an injury, to be replaced by Samir Carruthers, and the medics will check on the Danish defender back at Villa’s base.

Villa (first half): Guzan, Herd, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett; Delph, Sylla,; Albrighton, Bacuna, Tonev; Bowery.

Villa 2nd half team (4-3-3): Steer, Lowton, Okore (Carruthers 90), Clark, Luna; El Ahmadi, Gardner, Westwood; Weimann, Helenius, Agbonlahor #avfc