STEVE BRUCE was left looking battered and bruised after undergoing surgery on his face.
The Aston Villa boss shocked staff at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground when he turned up with stitches above his right eye and a swollen face.
As he spoke to the media ahead Villa’s last Championship game of the season against Brighton, the 56-year-old was quick to reveal he had surgery to remove two moles.
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Before any questions were asked he said: “I do apologise for the way I look before we go any further.
“I’ve had moles removed, it’s not very pleasant.”
Bruce then joked that he was going to invent a more exciting story to explain the cuts.
He added: “I was going to tell you I joined in training this week and rattled a few.”
And Bruce isn’t the only member of the Villa side who is set to go under the knife.
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£15million striker Jonathon Kodjia could miss the start of next season after breaking his ankle in during last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn.
Thee 27-year-old will visit specialists across Europe before undergoing surgery as the 19-goal man hopes for a speedy recovery.
Bruce will be hoping to bolster his squad in the summer after watching the Midlands side underachieve this campaign.
Villa, who were one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season, are in 12th spot with one game to go.