Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce confirms enquiries made for Ross McCormack

The 30-year-old Scot, who joined 12 months ago in a £12million move from Fulham, is among a group of players Villa are aiming to move out before the transfer window closes at the end of next month.

Sunderland are one of the clubs understood to be interested and though no deal is imminent, Bruce is hopeful of progress in the coming days.

“There’s been an enquiry,” he said. “There’s been enquiries from a couple of clubs, that might happen in the next week or so, we’ll wait and see.”

McCormack ended last season on loan at Nottingham Forest following a high-profile bust-up with Bruce over his fitness.

The pair have since resolved their differences but McCormack remains very much on the fringes and was left out of Villa’s squad for the recent Cup of Traditions tournament in Germany.

With Villa set to be without Jonathan Kodjia for the start of the season, Bruce is yet to close the door fully on McCormack. But it is clear he would welcome the chance to move him on in order to free up funds which could then be used elsewhere.

McCormack and Gary Gardner are both set to feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Bodymoor Heath tomorrow.

Bruce explained: “I didn’t take him to Germany. I left the door open for him.

“He is training well but at the moment I can’t guarantee him a game. That goes for Gary Gardner and one or two other ones where basically we have too many.

“To be fair to them lads too I didn’t think it was right to take them to Germany if I was not going to use them.

“As far as I am concerned they are part of the squad because we have seen what can happen. We have had a couple of injuries and you can never say never.”

Jack Grealish is a doubt for Saturday’s Championship opener after being injured in Villa’s 0-0 friendly draw with Watford. The 21-year-old was taken to hospital following a collision with Hornets midfielder Tom Cleverley.