Bruce: Big players bringing success to Villa

Bruce changed the recruitment policy at Villa when he was appointed, immediately signing players with more experience at the highest level, and he believes it is paying off as he leads another team to promotion from the Championship. 

"I'd have loved to have bought 24-year-olds and paid £25m for them," said Bruce, who has more promotions from England's second division than any other manager. 

"We went down the route of needing to have players who can handle playing for Aston Villa, first and foremost.

"There's an expectancy with a big club, big history - you need big players.

"[Ahmed] El Mohamady, [Glenn] Whelan, John Terry, Jedinak, James Chester and Robert Snodgrass - all people who've been there, worn the t-shirt.

"You know that individual will not get fazed by playing for Aston Villa. There's been a lot of players here over the years that have struggled to come to terms with playing for a big club."