Steve Bruce admits he simply had to pick Birkir Bjarnason in Aston Villa’s last match

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Aston Villa won 3-1 against Barnsley in their last outing.

Steve Bruce has told the Express and Star that he had to pick Birkir Bjarnason to play against Barnsley.

The Icelandic international came off the substitutes’ bench to make a positive impression against Nottingham Forest.

And Bjarnason’s performance was so good, that Bruce said that he had to give the 29-year-old a starting role last weekend, otherwise it would have sent out the wrong message to the rest of the squad.

“I think he (Birkir) needed to play on Saturday, I had to reward the squad,” Bruce said.

“Glenn Whelan was fit and big Mile Jedinak was not quite 100 per cent fit, but I decided Birkir needed to play.

“If I hadn’t played him then the squad doesn’t have the belief that they can get in, do a job and stay there.”

Bjarnason impressed again for Villa against Barnsley, as Bruce’s side picked up a 3-1 victory.

The versatile man could now retain his place in Villa’s starting line-up, as he aims to save his career with the claret and blues.

It was expected that Bjarnason would move on from Villa this month, but he has suggested that he will stay now.

Villa need Bjarnason to keep up his current form, as they go for promotion.

Bruce’s side have won their last four league matches in a row to propel themselves up the Championship table and into automatic promotion contention.