ASTON VILLA MANAGER Steve Bruce left striker Ross McCormack out of his match-day squad for today’s 2-2 draw with Preston following a heated argument between the pair during the week.
Bruce has been disappointed with McCormack’s fitness levels since he was appointed manager of the club in October and he has become increasingly frustrated with the Scotland international’s attitude.
McCormack has reportedly missed a number of training sessions in recent months and things came to a head on Tuesday of this week when McCormack didn’t turn up to training due to faulty gates outside his house.
Over the phone, Bruce asked McCormack to jump the fence and take a taxi to training but McCormack insisted he had to remain at home until the gates were fixed.
That prompted Bruce to drive to the 30-year-old’s house to confront the striker.
Bruce jumped the fence outside McCormack’s house and rang the doorbell to give McCormack a piece of his mind.
And following their dispute, McCormack was left out of today’s Villa squad.
“In my opinion, he’s not fit enough to play unless his attitude and record of missing training improves,” Bruce told a press conference after today’s game at Villa Park.
“If he keeps missing training like he does — then that will be the situation.
“The latest excuse was that his gates had stuck but he couldn’t jump over a fence that was four feet six inches high.
“There has been too much indiscipline at this club for way too long.
“Not in 20 years of management have I gone down this road of publicly shaming a player but I have to make a stand because I won’t put up with it.
“How can I pick him when he doesn’t want to come training?
“It’s happened more than once. Everyone can have an excuse for one occasion but when it is more than that I will not accept it.”
McCormack, who joined Villa from Fulham for £12 million last August, is already being linked with a return to Craven Cottage.
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