Former Liverpool midfielder-turned-pundit Jamie Redknapp has suggested that Aston Villa have made one of the signing of the Championship season in the form of skipper John Terry. The former England international returned from a foot injury at the turn of the year, and he has been crucial to their drive to secure top-flight promotion.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Villains find themselves right in the mix for an automatic promotion bid, and Redknapp, speaking to The Mail, believes Terry has been the key influence behind the club’s successful run, he said: "Aston Villa invested in Terry, now 37, by taking on his wages and if they get promoted to the Premier League, he will have been worth every penny. What you don’t see is the influence he has in that dressing room. A bad atmosphere can set in but it only takes one or two lads like JT and that can soon change. Villa are third in the Championship and their new leader can go down as one of the signings of the season."
Villa had secured seven victories on the trot in the Championship prior to succumbing to a defeat and draw to Fulham and Preston North End respectively. This had generated doubts over their promotional credentials, but they have seemingly got themselves back on track with a convincing 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday on the road.
The west Midlands outfit are now four points behind second-placed Cardiff City heading into the final 12 games of the season, and Terry’s experience at the back could be key to enhancing their chances of Premier League promotion in the second time of asking.
Villa have winnable games on paper against Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland in the next 10 days, before they entertain league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park.