Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce relishing return to Birmingham City

The 55-year-old will return to his former club aiming to extend an unbeaten start to life at Villa Park, with Saturday's 1-0 win over Fulham making it seven points from his first three games in charge.

Bruce, who spent six years as boss at St Andrew's, was at Burton on Friday night as Gary Rowett's team tumbled to a 2-0 defeat and got a taster of what he can expect on Sunday, with certain sections of the visiting Blues crowd calling him 'fat potato head'.

It was an insult often aimed his way by Villa fans during his tenure at Blues and Bruce joked: "I heard it. They've got to come up with something more original than that!

"Come on the Birmingham fans, get a bit more original! That's been going round for a long time that one. And I haven't got a fat head anymore, so people tell me."

He added: "Look, as long as it's taken in banter and in jest the way it should be. Let's remember it's a Second City derby, something for the people of the area, whoever you support, to enjoy. Let's make sure it's an occasion everybody enjoys."

A late Jonathan Kodjia goal continued Villa's upturn and the rejuvenation is matched in the appearance of a manager who admits he feels far healthier than the man who left Hull back in July. Bruce credits his new-look to an improved diet and regular exercise on a bike though he added: "I got knocked off near home but nobody got a picture of it thankfully. Yes, by a bus!"

He went on: "Well played to my missus who has nagged me for the best part of three, four months. A special thanks to her because she's the one who has had to live with me when I couldn't eat a slice of bread or go for a pint of beer. I've still got a long way to go. I'm not there yet but I'm a bit more healthy."

Victory over Fulham saw Villa record back-to-back wins for the first time since May 2015 but Bruce warned: "It's a decent start, that's all it is."