Aston Villa signings John Terry and Glenn Whelan give Steve Bruce the experience that means club have NO excuse for not clinching promotion

I HAD expected to be kicking off a week later in the Prem this season, we simply weren't good enough for anything other than a very average 13th.

I'd bet £40 on us winning the Championship last season, how was I to know half our players would go missing?

This season? Steve Bruce is no idiot.

He knows he has to get results and I am quite sure he'll have told the players the time for excuses, settling in, or getting used to being at a club this size is over.

Now is the time for results. There can be NO hiding place.

If Bruce doesn't let them know, you can be sure summer signings John Terry and Glenn Whelan will.

I did wonder, especially when Bruce agreed to sell Nathan Baker (26 and an academy product) to replace him with the long-drifting Chris Samba (33), whether we were starting to build a Dad's Army.

However, to be fair, Terry (even at 36) is looking head and shoulders above the rest of the squad, as is Whelan.

The Irishman looks like he'll be our midfield general through the season, I would imagine alongside Mile Jedinak when the Aussie is back to full fitness.

This isn't building for the future. But then, short-termism to get back to the Premier League is probably essential.

For a club of Aston Villa's size, you simply can't stick around in the Championship.

One season to find our feet and regroup was probably not that bad a thing - we were so rank last time in the Prem.

However we can't afford a third.

All eyes on Bruce. Some fans do wonder if he has the tactical nous as there weren't that many improvements last season. And through pre-season, we've looked fairly ordinary.

BUT pre-season... it's about fitness isn't it? Well... isn't it?

We've already lost Jack Grealish to a freak kidney injury, he could be out for up to three months.

Bruce won't really be able to use that as an excuse though, he didn't really use Jack that much last term.

But this season, with him on one wing and Andre Green on the other... mixed in with Ahmed Elmah.. Ahmed Elmoha... Elmo (bought from Hull) who has also looked lively, we could just end up with an attacking formation.

Supply is the name of the game. Bruce has been using Gabby Agbonlahor.

It will be interesting come the weekend as I would say it is essential we go with Scott Hogan, in the absence of the still injured - but fast returning to full fitness - Jonathan Kodjia.

Gabby, if needed, can be an impact sub. If Bruce sticks with him, I hope Gabby scores loads of goals.

However if you look up his record, I'd be surprised if that happened.

I SO hope Bruce succeeds, he's a top bloke and so excited to be at a big club like this.

The expectations are high from Villa fans. Rightly so, we've had the owner build us up - much like the previous two owners.

Now we hope to see them follow through, return us to the promised land and then we'll really see what Doctor Tony Xia is made of. Gold, I hope!

As for me, I've got my dates totally mixed up and the season starts earlier this year.

I'm missing my first opening game since 1996. The last time the excuse was fair enough, a brain operation.

This? Well, it's a dirty job but someone has to do it... Kuala Lumpur rocks.

Hopefully my absence brings Villa luck (!) and we smash Hull City. A good start will help confidence build and I think if that happens, we'll romp the league.

Terry won't let anyone hide on the pitch, that's 100% guaranteed at least.

Until the next disaster fellow Villans... UTV.