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 shirtGary McAllister believes Robert Pires will inspire Aston Villa's rising stars after returning to the Barclays Premier League at the age of 37.Villa boss Gerard Houllier gave McAllister a new lease of life in his late 30s when signing him for Liverpool.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.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.'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.'People thought he was coming to the end of his career but he went to Villarreal and done well there for several seasons.'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.'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.' Favourite: Pires spent six seasons at Arsenal and won the World Cup with FrancePires has been a free agent since his release by Villarreal in the summer and been training with Arsenal for the past two months.A World Cup winner with France in 1998, he agreed to the deal after passing a medical at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday.He could now come into contention to play some part in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at Blackburn.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.' 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

Source: Daily_Mail