Steve Bruce has thanked Aston Villa's owners for 'breathing new life' into the club since they arrived last month.

The Villans are now being backed by wealthy duo Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, who swooped in just in time to prevent the club from spiralling into financial oblivion.

Rather than cashing in on prized assets Jack Grealish, James Chester and Jonathan Kodjia, Bruce has instead been able to keep the trio in place and even added John McGinn to his squad before last week's transfer deadline.

Bruce admits that things looked bleak for his side before Sawiris and Edens arrived, telling reporters: "The new owners have breathed new life into everybody and taken away the doom and gloom and the Aston Villa supporters should have very exciting times ahead. It will take a bit of time.

"We can't do it instantly with Financial Fair Play but I know they're determined to make the club what it should be. I'll give you an example - I'd have loved to have brought McGinn six weeks ago but I couldn't.

"They've managed to back me and we've bought a very good player. That wouldn't have been possible four weeks ago. In fact Jack wouldn't have been here, Kodjia wouldn't have been here and the same with Chester. So now we can all breathe a big sigh of relief and get on with the main business, which is to play football."

Villa, beaten in the playoff final three months ago, have won their opening two matches of the 2018-19 Championship campaign.