Robert Snodgrass urged to use West Ham frustration as motivation at Aston Villa

Snodgrass became the club’s final signing of the transfer window when he joined on a season-long loan from the Hammers.

The “straight-talking” Scot pulled no punches when opening up about a difficult time at the London Stadium following a £10.2million January move from Hull, accusing West Ham boss Slaven Bilic of playing him out of position.

Villa boss Bruce hopes Snodgrass can channel that anger into positive performances for his team.

"He got his big move to West Ham but it hasn't quite happened - good, that’s our benefit,” said the boss.

"Let's hope he can produce, which I know he can. We have to try to channel that (frustration) into a positive.

"I hope this is the platform on which he can express his skills because he's a really good footballer."

Winger Snodgrass failed to score in 15 appearances for the Hammers and did not play a minute this season, with Villa set to assess his fitness ahead of Saturday's game with Brentford.

Bruce previously signed the 30-year-old from Norwich for Hull in 2014. Snodgrass suffered a serious knee injury in his first competitive game for the Tigers and was out for more than a year.

Bruce said: “Only his strength and single-mindedness got him through a horrible injury.

“He came back and played fantastically well.

"Snoddy is straight to the point, put it that way! He is passionate about what he does. He is a big personality. If he doesn't like you you're in trouble!

"When you speak with Snoddy, like with most people, you are as honest as you possibly can be.

"Sometimes in my job that can be very difficult, but if you give it as straight as you can usually they accept that.

"It's when they don't know where the land lies there becomes a problem.

"But especially with Snoddy, I've never had a problem."