Steve Bruce focusing on creating 'winning mentality' at Aston Villa

The 55-year-old, last night confirmed as the club's fourth manager in the past 12 months, took training for the first time as preparations began in earnest for the team's derby with Wolves at Villa Park.

Villa go into the game sitting 19th in the table with just one win all season, a record which led to Roberto Di Matteo being axed after just four months in charge.

And in his first interview with the club's official website, Bruce acknowledged the need to quickly raise spirits.

"Hard work is the one thing I will demand from everybody," he said. "We have to create a spirit in the club where everyone enjoys coming to work, whether you are the tea lady, the groundsman or the star striker.

"We have to create an atmosphere where everyone wants to come to work and have a winning mentality if we can.

"We have got all the tools. We just need it now to be pointing in the winning direction, win a few games and get us to where we want to be."

Bruce is set to be joined in the dugout on Saturday by Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh, after Villa made an official approach to Hull City for the Tigers current first-team coach and goalkeeping coach.

Despite his new club's lowly position in the table, the new boss believes the ingredients for success already exist in the squad.

"You only have to look at the squad, the investment, to realise we have a pretty good group for the Championship," he said.

"Not many can go and pay 14 or 15 million pounds for a centre-forward or centre-half. I'll be delighted to start work."

He went on: "I can't wait to get stuck in. I have had three or four months off now. You need a bit of fortune, some good luck.

"The team itself has lost nine points in the last five or ten minutes. If we could turn it around they would be sitting in sixth position and I probably wouldn't be here. We have to change those fortunes if we can."