Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has heaped praise on manager Gerard Houllier who is currently battling heart problems.
The French tactician was recently let out of hospital after having plenty of tests to ascertain the extent of his condition and is now back at home recovering.
21-year old Bannan said that Houllier's admission to hospital a week ago affected the Villa players mainly due to the fact that he is such a lovely bloke.
"When I saw it I couldn't believe it. It hit me and the other players hard. One minute he's here working with the players and the next he's in hospital. I'm just hoping he makes a speedy recovery and comes back perfect," the Scotland international told Express and Star.
"He's a gentleman, so friendly, he speaks to you in a lovely way and obviously we just want him to come back.
"The main thing is he has a speedy recovery - everyone wants that.
"He's been brilliant with us young boys - unbelievable. Particularly with the likes of me, Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton, Jonathan Hogg and few of the other guys," he added.
"He'll speak to you every single day, before or after training and ask if you're enjoying it and if you think you're improving.
"That's really important to us. You get some managers where you could go through a whole season and they wouldn't say a word to you.
"Yet he speaks to you all the time. He doesn't have to but he takes time out and goes out of his way to do it and he's been fantastic."
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