Mile Jedinak has been in excellent form for Aston Villa over recent weeks.
Steve Bruce has told the Birmingham Mail that there was never any chance of him leaving Mile Jedinak out of his Aston Villa starting line-up for their match against Norwich City.
Jedinak had been away over the international break, and Bruce suggested in the build up to the game, that the experienced defender could be rested.
However, the experienced boss insists that dropping Jedinak never actually crossed his mind – as he is so important to Villa.
“Big Mile has an influence,” Bruce said.
“He has an influence on the team, he has an influence in the dressing room, he’s man.
“There’s not many people who would have come and put their boots on today after being where he’s been. He’s just got off a plane yesterday from Australia. There was never even a hint that I was going to leave him out.”
Jedinak has been in excellent form at Villa over the past few weeks, and has even had to play at centre-back on occasion.
The 32-year-old made a slow start to his Villa career, but his importance is clear now.
The Sun have recently suggested that Jedinak could leave Villa this summer, but Bruce’s latest comments make that seem very unlikely.
Villa have won six of their last seven matches, to start climbing the Championship table.
The claret and blues are now in 11th place in the second tier, but the play offs still appear to be out of reach for Bruce’s side this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
