Steve Bruce calls on Henri Lansbury to give Aston Villa 'an edge'

The 26-year-old yesterday became the club's second signing of the January transfer window when he completed a £3million move from Nottingham Forest.

He could soon be joined at Villa by Conor Hourihane, with the club increasingly hopeful of sealing a deal for the Barnsley midfielder. Burnley striker Ashley Barnes is also understood to now be a target after Villa failed in an attempt to prise Jordan Rhodes from Middlesbrough.

Boss Bruce meanwhile believes Lansbury, who has signed a four-and-a-half year contract, has the personality to thrive at Villa Park.

"He's got that edge to him, whatever word you want to use," said Bruce. "He is the sort of type we need here. The expectation demands that you have to be able to perform.

"I think he will enjoy his new surroundings. He's the first of a few who we want to try and bring in to try and give us a bit of impetus.

"There is nothing like a new player to liven the team up and give the team an edge."

Villa lodged their bid for Lansbury earlier in the month but the clouded ownership situation at Forest, where American businessman John Jay Moores failed with an attempted takeover, meant they had to remain patient.

Bruce admitted the former Arsenal youngster is a player he has admired for some time.

"He has been on the radar for a long time," he said. "The one thing he always seems able to do is score a goal or create one.

"He's forward-thinking. He's got that little bit of swagger, if that is the right word. That little bit of something which I think you need. It's not a bad thing.

"He's a confident type of character, has a little bit of arrogance or whatever you want to call it. He seems to have it."

Lansbury could make his debut for Villa when they host Preston on Saturday, aiming to halt a three-game losing streak.

Bruce has made no secret of his displeasure at recent performances and believes the arrival of new players will provide much needed competition for places.

He added: "There is nothing like competition to give people a kick up the backside. That is what a good squad needs.

"Almost everyone has had a chance. Maybe some will say they haven't had long enough but I have been here now the best part of four months, 15 games. I'm getting an assessment and I am still not sure on all of them."

Villa have meanwhile turned their attentions to Barnes after seeing a £6million bid for Rhodes rejected.

Bruce is now considering a move for the 27-year-old, whom it is thought would be available for a fee of around £5million.

"Middlesbrough had an offer from us (for Rhodes) and it was refused. It's fair to say we are a long way off their valuation," said Bruce. "We've got another target. One more we're looking at."