Steve Bruce: 'No big Aston Villa spending in January'

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has said that there will not be "a huge big influx" of new players in the January transfer window.

The club have moved closer to playoff contention under Bruce, picking up 18 points from his first 10 games in charge following his arrival at Villa Park in October.

Under predecessor Roberto Di Matteo and new owner Dr Tony Xia, the Villans brought in nine new players - including Ross McCormack for £12m and Jonathan Kodjia for £15m - but Bruce is expecting only a handful of arrivals during his first transfer window in charge.

"I can't see there being a huge big influx or big mass exodus either," Bruce told the Birmingham Mail. "I don't think January is the time for that. There's one or two ticking away right now and one we have verbally agreed one. That looks as if it could happen.

"The club spent a lot in the summer, they spent a lot in the previous summer. It is not the answer of saying 'oh January is here lets pile in another six or seven players,' I won't work like that. I have said to the players it is up to them to show me they can play and take the club forward.

"If there is one or two we can bring in that can improve us, then it is my job to try and improve us. But we have got to be patient. Some of them have only been here three or four months. They need time to adjust and I think that is the biggest challenge they have got, adapting to playing for Aston Villa. No disrespect to all the other clubs in the division, apart from Newcastle, they have not got the expectation this club has got with the history and tradition it has got and the surroundings it has got, the support it has got."

Bruce previously revealed that he was closing in on two new signings, believed to be Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson.