New head coach Dean Smith has reportedly already identified and started scouting his first potential signing for Aston Villa and you needn’t be one of the mad few to have worked out this press story from the minute he was appointed.
With so many links to former centre-half James Collins over the last month given we left ourselves woefully short in the heart of defence as the permanent and then loan transfer deadline slammed shut at the end of August, it had already been reported that there was an open invitation to come in and train under former gaffer Steve Bruce – the delay was the 35-year-old was injured.
He’s now over his hamstring problem and the Birmingham Mail have confirmed that he’s been with us this week as we stayed true to our word about the training trial.
With that confirmed obviously it’s being spun as nigh on a done deal and that the former West Ham man will be coming in on a short-term deal until the summer, or at the very least January to provide cover.
As the Mail points out, it’s certainly not a done deal and although he’s over his injury now, there is an element of rebuilding his fitness to factor into things. If anything, his chances of a deal were maybe higher under Bruce than Smith.
I’m still firmly in the no camp for the obvious reasons, some things shouldn’t be forgiven even if it was an otherwise indiscretion in a good spell with us and career.
I’d rather see James Bree in myself.
