Steve Bruce: Experienced heads will see Aston Villa through
Steve Bruce reckons the experienced heads recruited during the summer will help Villa handle the promotion pressure this season.
The boss purposefully targeted players with Premier League pedigree in the current transfer window, pulling off a coup with the capture of John Terry
Midfielder Glenn Whelan and defender Chris Samba were also added, along with winger Ahmed Elmohamady, who won two promotions from the Championship with Hull City.
Bruce is meanwhile poised to welcome back influential midfielder Mile Jedinak following the Australian international’s recovery from groin surgery.
The boss believes there are now enough leaders in the squad to cope when the going gets tough.
“In (Neil) Taylor, Terry, Elmohamady, Whelan – all of those people I have brought to the club, we will be OK, I am convinced of that,” said Bruce.
“They are used to performing under pressure and they have the experience to handle it. They know what it is like when it gets tough.”
Jedinak could feature for the first time this season in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup second round tie against Wigan.
The 33-year-old has been an integral player for Villa, with Saturday’s 4-2 win over Norwich the first time they have secured victory without him in the starting XI since he arrived in a £4million move from Crystal Palace 12 months ago.
“Mile and Kodjia were arguably our best two performers last season,” added Bruce. “You are going to miss them when they are not around, especially the personality that he (Jedinak) is. He is one of them who leads by example.”
