Elphick gets his kicks in early..

TOMMY ELPHICK won’t be kicking himself if Aston Villa miss out on promotion this season.

Instead the club’s new captain will be booting the goalposts – something he does before every match to help him focus.

Elphick, 28, explains: “In my first game for one of my old clubs, Brighton, our keeper had the wrong jersey on.

“We were playing at the Withdean Stadium and the changing rooms were miles from the pitch.

“The kitman wasn’t walking too well either – it took him about half-anhour to get the shirt.

“I felt myself switching off. The pitch was soft so I went and banged my boots against the post.

“It focused me and we ended up winning.”

The defender (above) will be testing the strength of the framework before kick-off at Hillsborough – and throughout the season as Villa look to break the habit of 12 months of footballing hell.

Boss Roberto Di Matteo’s first signing for the club – a £3million buy from Bournemouth – admits the routine might surprise some fans but insists it is no fad. “Later in my career, I started working with a psychologist and he picked up on it,” Elphick said.

“He said it was a really good way for me to get into a zone mentally where I need to be. I’ve done it every single game since then – and I always will.

“It’s a period where I can reset my thoughts and reminds me of things I have been asked to do. It brings me comfort.

“Every player has his own routines. Some pray, others walk onto the pitch backwards, or don’t put their shirt on until the last minute. A lot of them won’t even admit to it.”

Elphick is desperate to help Villa banish memories of their last disastrous campaign.

“Getting back in the Premier League is the target,” he added. “The best thing about the Championship is that there is so much hope. There are 12 or 13 teams who have a chance of going up.

“And Sheffield Wednesday are one of them. It will be a really good test for us.”