Colin Calderwood: John Terry will leave a lasting legacy at Aston Villa

Terry has enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Championship after choosing to end a glittering two decade spell at Chelsea last summer.

The 37-year-old’s next move is already the subject of much speculation and will likely depend on whether or not Villa are able to win promotion through the play-offs.

On Friday, Terry claimed he will be staying if Villa reach the Premier League, though club officials have not given up on keeping him even if they remain in the Championship.

Regardless of what happens, Calderwood reckons Terry’s biggest impact has been his positive influence on the club’s next generation of stars.

“As good as John has been in the games, he’s been excellent on the training ground,” said the assistant boss. “He’s been a great example to any of the young ones here. That shows his professionalism.

“They will all remember it. Lots of players will remember how his application to training is and how desperate he is to still make tackles and block balls in training when to some people it doesn’t really matter.”

Calderwood has seen the former England captain up close at opposite ends of his career, having once partnered a then teenage Terry in defence at Nottingham Forest.

Terry spent two months on loan at the City Ground in 2000 and Calderwood joked: “We didn’t have too many games together as I got injured so I’ve had absolutely no influence on him at all!

"The players really spoke highly of him at Forest at the time, They said how well he did in the games and how he handled the situations as a young central defender.

“It’s difficult in any league because it’s a hard position to go into. Only the goalkeeper is the one you get more exposure.

“You can get put around the edges of the team but when you’re right in the centre.

“He produced very early on what he became in the end. He was destined to be a leader and captain of any side.”