McLeish: Jenas ready to make name for himself at Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is confident Jermaine Jenas will be a success at Villa Park after the midfielder joined the club on a season-long loan deal.

The 28-year-old, who arrived at the Midlands club from Tottenham Hotspur on transfer deadline day, endured a difficult spell at White Hart Lane last term after falling down Harry Redknapp’s pecking order.

But the Scottish manager, who took over from Gérard Houllier in the summer, is backing Jenas to find his form at Villa Park – and insists that an England comeback could even be on the cards for the midfielder.

“Jermaine Jenas is a dynamic midfielder,” McLeish told the Daily Mirror. “Jermaine’s career has stagnated over the last year or so. But speaking to some of his Tottenham team-mates I met on holiday and about, they can’t believe why he is still not playing for England.

“That tells you a little bit about the player himself and I am sure Jermaine wants to catch up for lost time.

“The evidence is there of good players who you have seen what they have done it in the past, it means they have it in their locker.

“It is about unleashing that again. The guys have already told me Jermaine was electric in his first training session, he looks really hungry and determined to make a name for himself at Aston Villa.”