Steve Bruce makes shock revelation about this Aston Villa star: He will be fined

GETTY

Ross McCormack looks set to be fined by Aston Villa for skipping training sessions

The Scotland international was dropped for Saturday's 2-2 draw against Preston after Bruce said he was "nowhere near fit enough to play".

McCormack, 30, earns about £40,000 a week at Aston Villa but has scored just three goals in 20 League games this season.

"You're never going to create a team spirit if they're looking round giggling at each other because he's not turned up again," said Bruce, clearly angry at the situation.

GETTY

Steve Bruce is angry at McCormack for his conduct

"Unless his attitude to work changes, I'm going to pick people who really want to turn up and play.

"If it repeatedly happens, I won't put up with it. If I do, I'll have the lunatics running the asylum. If I let people do what they want, we'll have anarchy."

Asked why McCormack keeps skipping training, Bruce replied: "The gates were stuck."

GETTY

Bruce has denied interest in Burnley striker Ashley Barnes

Championship Done Deals: Every transfer out during January 2017
Wed, January 18, 2017

Express Sport brings you up to date with every departure from the Championship during the January transfer window

Play slideshow

Getty Images

1 of 34

Who has your club sold or loaned out during the January transfer window?

Reports say Bruce has photographed McCormack's house to prove he could get out of his gates. McCormack now faces a fine for missing training.

"He will be fined, yes," said Bruce. "It's not like I'm asking them to play at the North Pole. We come in for 9.30am and start training and 10.30am each day."

Bruce denied interest in Burnley's Ashley Barnes but wants a new striker, adding: "My bid for Jordan Rhodes was turned down and we won't be going back to it. But we might have the new Thierry Henry coming in on loan this week."

Albert Adomah's brace in the 22nd and 36th minute – the second a penalty after he was tripped by Aiden McGeady – put Villa in the ascendancy. But Jordan Hugill curled home a beauty in the 64th minute before rescuing a point with a 76th-minute header.

Original Article