( CNN ) -- Former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins believes the Premier League club will re-appoint Guus Hiddink as their new manager . Wilkins worked alongside Hiddink in 2009 , when the Dutchman took over from Luis Felipe Scolari , and the pair helped Chelsea lift the FA Cup that season . Hiddink 's temporary reign ended before the start of the 2009-2010 season and Carlo Ancelotti then took the London side to a league and cup double , before a trophy-less season just gone resulted in the Italian losing his job . Since then , Hiddink -- who is currently in charge of the Turkish national side -- has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge and Wilkins , who was controversially sacked by Chelsea last season . believes he will be appointed by the London club very soon . Speaking to CNN , Wilkins said : `` It seems to be heading towards Guus . He has been there once before , only for four months , but we won the FA Cup and also reached the Champions League semifinals in that time . `` The Champions League seems to be the holy grail for Chelsea and if they are to go one stage further in that competition , Guus would be the man to do that . '' Wilkins added : `` Guus knows the way Chelsea think and knows everybody at the training ground , so it would just be like slotting in the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle . '' Meanwhile , Aston Villa have confirmed the appointment of former Birmingham manager Alex McLeish on a three-year contract . McLeish led Birmingham to victory in last season 's Carling Cup final , but the club were also relegated out of the Premier League for the second time under his control -- and he quit his position under a cloud last week . Birmingham and Villa are bitter city rivals and McLeish 's appointment has resulted in fan demonstrations . However , McLeish told the official Villa website : `` I know some of the fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why . But it is up to me to convince them that I am the right man to take this club forward . '' Elsewhere in the Premier League , the fixtures for the forthcoming 2011-2012 season were released with champions Manchester United facing a trip to West Bromwich Albion in their opening match . United won 2-1 there last season , but WBA were the only team to come away from Old Trafford with a point in a 2-2 draw . Arsenal travel to Newcastle , where they squandered a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 , while new big-money Liverpool signing Jordan Henderson faces a dream home debut against the club he has just left , Sunderland . New boys Swansea face a daunting trip to Manchester City , while fellow- newcomers QPR are at home to Bolton and Norwich must travel to Wigan .
Guus Hiddink believes Ray Wilkins will be re-appointed as Chelsea manager . Wilkins tells Hiddink that Hiddink will be the perfect manager to return to the club . Guus Hiddink is named new manager of Aston Villa on a four months contract .