The Villa defender’s dad says his son has been waiting to play for a club of Villa’s stature.
The father of Aston Villa captain Tommy Elphick has told The Argus that his son has always dreamed of playing for a club as big as the Championship side.
Elphick joined Villa in the summer from Premier League side Bournemouth, whom he had captained to promotion from League One to the top flight.
He became former Villa manager Roberto di Matteo’s first signing at Villa Park when he joined, and was immediately handed the armband at the relegated club.
However, he has lost his place in recent weeks under the Italian’s replacement Steve Bruce, with the partnership of James Chester and Nathan Baker instead being preferred, and has not started since Bruce’s first game in charge a month ago.
Before Bournemouth, Elphick had played for Brighton and Hove Albion and Bognor Regis Town, and his father told The Argus that the 29-year-old has been waiting his whole career to join a club the size of Villa.
Gary Elphick said: “He got a calf injury in the Wolves game. He’s back and everything is okay. It’s just unfortunate he got injured when the new manager has come in but that’s the nature of the beast.
“He’s settled in fine. It’s a bigger club, a bit of a different animal. Everything seemed to fall into place. It was a good opportunity for him. When the timing’s right things happen for a reason and it was a good time to move.
“Tommy has always felt he wanted to play at some stage of his career at what you could term a big club.”
Elphick has been criticised by some Villa fans for perceived mistakes in the backline this season, and with Chester and Baker at the back Villa are unbeaten in their last four games under Bruce.
He came on as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend, but he is likely to find it difficult to reclaim a starting spot after the international break.
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