Former Aston Villa manager John Gregory is being linked with a sensational return to English football at Derby County.

The Birmingham Mail says the 66-year-old is reportedly in line to join Wayne Rooney in an attempt to guide the Rams up the Championship table after Phillip Cocu's sacking.

Gregory spent four years at Villa between 1998 and 2002, leading the club to a sixth-placed finish and an FA Cup final which they eventually lost to Chelsea.

He helped Villa to the UEFA Cup in his first season after an incredible end-of-term turnaround and had the side at the top of the table for a short period in his second campaign but watched them trail over.

Gregory has mostly worked abroad in the last decade - his most recent job being with Chennaiyin in the Indian Super League following spells managing in Israel and Kazakhstan before a stint at Crawley Town.