Steve Bruce hails Glenn Whelan as Aston Villa's ‘unsung hero’
Boss Steve Bruce has hailed ‘unsung hero’ Glenn Whelan for helping bring a winning mentality to Villa.
The 33-year-old midfielder joined in a £1.5million switch from Stoke City back in July and has, along with fellow summer signing John Terry, been credited with helping unite the club’s dressing room.
Whelan has started all but one of Villa’s Championship fixtures and been an ever-present during a run of six wins in eight which has seen them fly up the table.
Bruce said: “Glenn’s the type of player you notice most when he’s not there.
“He’s not pleasing on the eye, he will not mind me saying that. He is not the most graceful of movers but he is fiercely determined.
“There is a streak about him, a winning mentality. That rubs off.
“He demands a lot in training, doesn’t like getting beat, even in five-a-side he gets the huff.
“That rubs off on people around. Him and John Terry were the key to helping me turn it round.
“That is what it needed, the dressing room needed to be together. In the 12 months I have been here I feel it is getting there, nearly there. There is still a bit to do.”
Bruce believes Terry and Whelan have led by example in showing their team-mates the standard required in a team with promotion aspirations.
“They have helped us enormously with their know-how – what it entails, what it takes,” he said. “I think the rest of the squad have looked up to these two in particular and think ‘that is the way we have got to be’.
“They both train as though it is their last training session, the way they prepare themselves. It has had the ideal effect on the squad. I can’t praise them enough for giving us that know-how and what it takes.”
He continued: “They are experienced Premier League players. Glenn played 30 times a season for Stoke for nearly 10 years.
“He knows what it is all about, how to handle it, how to handle playing at a big stadium. He has played internationals. For John it is water off a duck’s back. It’s been his life.
“When you add in Snodgrass, he’s another experienced one who I knew would handle it. He’s the type who would relish playing for Aston Villa.”
