Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa's No 2 Gary McAllister says young stars can learn from 'proven winner' Robert Pires
New signing: Robert Pires with the Aston Villa shirt[LNB]Gary McAllister believes Robert Pires will inspire Aston Villa's rising stars after returning to the Barclays Premier League at the age of 37.[LNB]Villa boss Gerard Houllier gave McAllister a new lease of life in his late 30s when signing him for Liverpool.[LNB]Now he has offered the same chance to former Arsenal player Pires who has signed a six-month contract until the end of the season.[LNB]Villa assistant manager McAllister said: 'He is a proven winner. It gets thrown around a lot these days when people say they are a winner but he is a genuine article.[LNB]'He's a European champion and he has won the World Cup as well. He has vast experience and was a fantastic player in the Premier League for Arsenal.[LNB]'People thought he was coming to the end of his career but he went to Villarreal and done well there for several seasons.[LNB]'For all the younger players - what a tremendous addition. The younger players can only learn from watching a guy like Robert on the training field.[LNB]'He will gain respect. But I am sure Robert Pires isn't coming here just to be a player that everyone is going to stand back and admire. He will want to gain the respect of the fact that he is still competitive and still able to do a job at this level.'[LNB] Favourite: Pires spent six seasons at Arsenal and won the World Cup with France[LNB]Pires has been a free agent since his release by Villarreal in the summer and been training with Arsenal for the past two months.[LNB]A World Cup winner with France in 1998, he agreed to the deal after passing a medical at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday.[LNB]He could now come into contention to play some part in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at Blackburn.[LNB]Pires told Aston Villa TV: 'I can't wait to play and put on that new shirt. It is very exciting.'I am very happy to join Aston Villa because it's a big club in England. I am also thrilled to have the chance of working with Gerard Houllier.'[LNB] Robert Pires passes medical to clinch six-month Aston Villa deal Aston Villa confirm midfielder Fabian Delph should be back from injury in the New Year ASTON VILLA FC
