Steve Bruce admits Ross McCormack regrets

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has admitted to being "disappointed" with the breakdown in his relationship with striker Ross McCormack earlier this year.

The 31-year-old was dropped by Bruce in January after the Villans boss accused him of "continually missing training" and being "nowhere near fit enough to play".

McCormack subsequently joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the second half of last season and, having failed to secure a move away from Villa Park in the summer, was shipped out on loan to Australian side Melbourne City last month.

"Of course there are one or two things I would have changed, but hindsight is a wonderful thing," Bruce, celebrating one year in charge of Villa, told the Birmingham Mail. "I was disappointed with how the Ross McCormack situation transpired.

"Even in the summer, I shook hands with him and said 'let's try and make a fist of it if we can'. Unfortunately it didn't happen.

"In management you make mistakes. You just hope that you make better judgements than mistakes. But overall, I'm delighted I've been here a year. I've lasted longer than five of the last six managers so that's progress.

"The club needs stability. Results are always important and they've picked up in the last couple of months so let's hope that continues."

McCormack, meanwhile, recently described his time at Villa as "a disaster".