Show your loyalty, JT

I’M happy with Dean Smith’s appointment at Aston Villa.

We were apprentices together at Walsall 29 years ago and I know he’s a very level-headed man with a good, front-foot, footballing philosophy. But my concern is the fact he has as his No.2 John Terry — a grade A star in English football working behind a No.1 who is the polar opposite in terms of reputation and CV. Getting that relationship right is going to take a monumental effort because Smith will be painfully aware that he has a football legend, someone who is the players’ friend, alongside him.

Terry (above) needs to prove that his loyalty to Smith is unquestionable. If he can, Villa have a chance. If he can’t, it will end in tears.