New Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce: The slate is wiped clean for Gabby Agbonlahor

Bruce took his first training session at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday and has told every player they are now working from a clean slate.

That includes Agbonlahor, who had previously been training with the club's under-23s after rejecting a move away from Villa Park in the summer.

Former Birmingham City boss Bruce, who described Villa as arguably the biggest club he has ever managed, is determined to change the mentality of a team which has won just four of its last 51 league games.

He said: "I'm not really interested what's happened in the past. As far as I am concerned this is under my remit.

"Of course managers get problems to deal with but at this moment in time I've got none.

"I've only been here for 24 hours and as far as I am concerned the slate is wiped clean for all of them.

"And we start again tomorrow. That obviously means Gabby too. He's had his problems and it's fair to say he and I have got to get him into some condition but that applies to him too."

Agbonlahor, the club's longest-serving player, has not featured since the 1-0 defeat at Swansea in March and has seen his stock with supporters plummet after a string of off-field incidents.

The forward, who turned 30 on Thursday, resigned the club captaincy after being photographed out drinking on the night Villa were relegated from the Premier League.

With the club now sitting 19th in the Championship having won just one of their first 11 games, Bruce is under no illusions as to the task which now faces him as he prepares for Saturday's derby with Wolves, his first game in charge.

He said: "Four wins in 51 games and not to win away from home since the first away game of last season is shocking for a club of this size.

"I think the hardest part of management is always trying to bring a team back after it has been relegated because there's a doom and gloom around the supporters, especially a club like this because it's not used to being in a Championship, not used to being here, and it will take some time to get over.

"It leaves a bad taste with everyone. It's my job now to try and turn it around."

And Bruce, who has signed a rolling contract at Villa Park, admitted he would love to earn a new nickname from the club's supporters, adding: "I've been used to being called potato head from them (Villa fans) for the last 20 years... I think I've always took it as a bit of a compliment. If they are against you, then usually they quite like you."

Stephen Clemence has been confirmed as Villa's new first-team coach, though the search for an assistant boss is ongoing.

Kevin Bond and Massimo Battara, who were part of former boss Roberto Di Matteo's staff, have left the club.