Alex McLeish puts Aston Villa through Army training

Aston Villa have called in the military in a bid to help them climb the table. Alex McLeish's side sit eighth in the Barclays Premier League after recovering from a slow start. But the former Birmingham manager is clearly not taking his foot off the pedal after calling in fitness gurus for a boot-camp session. Get down and give me five: Army fitness instructor Lee Swann puts the Aston Villa players through their paces Hard work can be fun: Marc Albrighton looks happy enough despite the punishing fitness programmeDrilled by Army instructor Lee Swann, Villa's players were put through their paces at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground. It was part of a link-up with the Forces ahead of Remembrance Sunday. Apart from the stars who are away on international duty, all of Villa's squad took part in the gruelling workout. Wingers Charles N'Zogbia and Marc Albrighton were among the men ordered to run carrying tyres and leap over pommel horses - as well as the classic press-up and sit-up routines. The old ones are the best: The Aston Villa players are told to do press-ups during their boot-camp session Up and over: Flying winger Charles N'Zogbia throws himself into the training as he clears the pommel horseAfter coming through the ordeal, Albrighton admitted: 'They really put us through our paces and made us work hard. It was something really different from what we're used to. 'There were a few aches and pains but we really enjoyed it. It was good to work with the Army and see what a great job they do.'  Aston Villa in ?6m battle with Roma for Hamburg defender DiekmeierVilla manager McLeish heaps praise on Heskey for playing through the pain barrier In-form Agbonlahor can fill Rooney's boots for England, Bent tells CapelloEXCLUSIVE: After the agony of two failures, Shay Given insists it's the Republic of Ireland's time now.All the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinion

Source: Daily_Mail