Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is delighted by the impact made by Chelsea legend John Terry.

Bruce says he only ­realised what a prize asset the veteran stopper would be during last week's pre-season trip to ­Germany.

It was the sight of Terry flinging himself about during a friendly that was meaningless to everyone else that brought home the 36-year-old's warrior mentality.

Bruce said: “Driving into the training ground, I just heard Dean Saunders say on the radio that he thought John Terry was the best signing of the summer.

“After working with John – watching him first-hand for two or three weeks – I can only say that I agree.

“It's everything about him, what he brings in terms of presence. The way he trains, the way he prepares, the way he looks after himself.

“I've just been away with the squad. It's raining like you wouldn't believe, we're in a match that means nothing in the middle of nowhere and he's competing like it's the World Cup final. I just thought, 'Wow!' – he's 36 and he's in magnificent shape.

“He is used to winning, doing things right. Everything he does, he does right. They don't come along very often, people like him. He is a leader. He's all of those things. But he's also a fabulous player."