Aston Villa forward Scott Hogan has heaped praise on the club’s new assistant manager John Terry, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Hogan has endured a frustrating start to the campaign due to injury and a lack of opportunities under Steve Bruce.
The 26-year-old, however, will be hoping to be utilised more often following the appointment of Dean Smith as manager, who Hogan knows from his time with Brentford.
Former Villa defender John Terry has returned to Villa Park as Smith’s assistant and Hogan has waxed lyrical about the 37-year-old:
“He was great last year. He’s different to what you expect, he’s almost quite shy. He’s not the most vocal but he leads by example.
“As a central defender he’s watched the game from the back all his life and he understands things, he understands patterns of play, where to be, his reading of the game… he’s arguably been the best defender of his generation.
“So if he can pass his knowledge on that would be brilliant, he knows the lads, he knows the ground, he knows the training ground, the staff. He knows what the fans expect and he has played at a big club all those years and won everything.
“But whoever it is, it doesn’t matter, you’ve got a clean slate. Lads who have been playing will be fearing for places and lads who haven’t will be thinking, This is my chance to establish myself in the team now, get the club to where it belongs and become a hero. Hopefully I can be one of those people.”
The Republic of Ireland international faces stiff competition within the Villa ranks, with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Jonathan Kodjia, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Keinan Davis all competing to be the team’s focal point in the frontline.
Smith will therefore face a selection headache ahead of the visit of Swansea City, who will lock horns with Villa after the international break.
