Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink believes that new arrival John Terry can “get Villa back to where they belong” and claims that he can be as influential as past defender Paul McGrath.
Spink played alongside McGrath at the Midlands club for seven years and both men enjoyed great success together, securing the League Cup trophy in 1994 when Villa defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.
The defender was considered to be one of the finest defenders of his generation and he played his best football at Villa Park, making a total of 171 appearances for the club.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, Spink believes that there are similarities between McGrath and Terry and he is confident that the new man can take Villa to the next level next season.
“It’s a different era but there’s certainly a comparison between John’s arrival and what Paul McGrath did for us,” he said.
“Macca was a silent assassin.?He wasn’t massively vocal but he did his talking through the way he played. He was outstanding for us.
“John Terry will be more vocal and more of a dressing room presence who will demand 100 per cent from his team-mates every game.
“I just hope John Terry can add to that upward curve and try to get Villa back to where they belong.”
Terry is certainly a player who can add something special to the Villa squad in the upcoming Championship campaign as he has vast experience playing at the top level.
The defender made over 600 appearances for his beloved Chelsea and he captained them to great success, including five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
The central defender has also captained the England national team and managed to earn a total of 78 international caps.
Terry’s presence in the Villa dressing room will be a huge asset as Steve Bruce looks to achieve promotion with the side in his first full season in charge.