Early bird John Terry ready to help revive Aston Villa after 6am gym sessions

Terry returned to training this week for the first time since suffering the injury in early November.

And Bruce hailed the 37-year-old’s dedication, while revealing his rehabilitation had featured several pre-dawn gym sessions.

“He had the physio in last week at 6am so he could work and get on the bus with the players before they went off to play a game. That sums John up,” said the boss.

“His influence around the place is enormous, the standards he sets and the way he is in himself.

“You can see why at 37 he still has something to offer.

“It is the way he is, the way he conducts himself. The way he looks after himself, the way he demands.”

Bruce also revealed how former England skipper Terry, who joined Villa after two decades with Chelsea last summer, is likely to cut his coaching teeth with the Championship club.

The centre-back is one of several Villa players working toward their B coaching licence and Bruce hopes they can get some hands-on experience at Bodymoor Heath.

"Five or six of them have started their B Licence so we have gone to the FA to see if they can do their B Licence coaching here," said the boss.

"I think that’s the next step (for John).

"The one thing which I said to him – and he was on the same page – was you are a long time retired.

"So devote yourself to playing and if I can help you with anything at all (on the coaching side) then I will try.

"In terms of coaching, I think that is coming next at the turn of the year. But we need to get his foot ready first though."

Bruce added: "Without question he is going to have a crack at it – and rightly so. I hope so.

"Steven Gerrard has gone down that path too. But I have said many times too many of the top, top players have gone down the media path."