"Terrific" John Terry a big influence at Aston Villa
Steve Bruce has hailed ‘terrific’ John Terry as a role model for Villa’s young stars and reckons the veteran defender’s impact at the club cannot be measured on the pitch alone.
Terry has been everything Villa boss Bruce expected after he convinced the former England skipper to join on a free transfer last summer.
Despite some supporters having concerns over his durability, the 36-year-old has been an ever-present for Villa in the Championship. But it is off the field where Bruce believes his influence is perhaps being felt the most.
“John is terrific around the place, which is the reason I did my utmost to sign him,” he said.
“It’s not just what he does on the field, it’s the way he is off it. He has never missed a training session. The young ones can look up to him and learn thats the way you train.
“He is immaculate in everything he does and that rubs off off everyone.”
Terry made just 14 appearances last season for Chelsea, the club where he won five Premier League titles during a glittering career. Bruce believes the centre-back’s absence is being felt at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s not just playing-wise,” said Bruce. “It’s the way he is and what Chelsea will miss too is the way he is as a captain.
“Sometimes you are born to be a captain and leader. Even if he hasn’t been playing at Chelsea he has still contributed.
“Chelsea for me will find a big gaping hole because he has gone, I’m sure of that.
“That’s only notional when he has been there 15 years and 10 of them as captain.
“They have accepted him here, absolutely.”
