HELL CLASICO Watch out JT, even you will be shocked by this derby

ASTON VILLA boss Steve Bruce claims even old warhorse John Terry will have the jitters going into the derby clash with Birmingham.

Terry has five Premier League medals and a European Cup to his name, but Bruce insists it will make no difference .

“I’m sure he will enjoy the challenge of it,” said the Villa boss of what will be the defender’s first taste of the Second City showdown.

“But no matter how many experiences you have, a derby is a derby and it all goes out the window.

“Even the manager loses his head in these derbies.”

The noon kick-off at St

Andrew’s on Sunday is sure to be a feisty affair.

“We know it’s going to be a tough physical encounter,” said Bruce (above), a veteran of these games as a player with Birmingham and manager of both Blues and Villa.

Terry has played in every league game since joining in the summer from Chelsea and got his first goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Fulham.

“What has John Terry brought to Aston Villa?” asked Bruce. “He’s shown how to be right as a pro, how to handle yourself, how to conduct yourself.

“Terry’s not missed a training session, not missed a game, touch wood. He’s 36 and hadn’t played for the best part of 18 months when he came to us. But his desire and his attitude is still there. That’s a wonderful example to the kids we have coming through.”

Terry has battled his way through London derbies and been through tough times around the world with England, yet Bruce insists Sunday in Birmingham will be something different.

“Form, ability, that all goes out the window,” said Bruce. “In a derby game it’s who keeps their head the best in the madness around you, because it will be madness from the moment we leave the coach.” But he is backing Terry to keep Villa’s promotion campaign on track through the mayhem, saying: “Whenever I’ve met John Terry I’ve always felt what shines through is his humility. He’s modest. I wish he was 26 not 36.”

Bruce has not lost to City in his two derbies as Villa boss, drawing 1-1 at St Andrew’s and winning 1-0 at Villa Park last season when Blues were in dire relegation trouble.

City are still struggling, one point above the drop zone with yet another new man in the hot seat. Including Lee Carsley’s stint as caretaker, Steve Cotterill is their fifth manager in 10 months.

Villa are in the Championship top five after one defeat in 10 games, but Bruce is taking nothing for granted.

“We’re looking forward to the derby, it will be a tough game like it always is,” he said. “That’s what these games are all about.”