Aston Villa 2 Preston 2: Steve Bruce launches scathing attack on Ross McCormack after striker offers bizarre reason for missing training as Villa blow two-goal lead

STEVE BRUCE launched a furious attack on Ross McCormack – after failing to turn up for training because ‘his gates were stuck’.

Angry Bruce left the misfit striker out of his squad at Villa Park for repeatedly missing training sessions.

The Villa boss revealed that McCormack had told Bruce his excuse for the latest no-show was the he could not get out of his own drive.

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Out of form McCormack has been linked with a move back to Fulham – but Bruce said he was not picked as punishment for his continued absence.

And the team that did play only added to Bruce’s frustration as they somehow managed to turn one of their best displays of the season into a draw after giving away a two-goal lead.

Jordan Hugill showed why he is in demand with two second half goals to earn Preston a point.

But Bruce was fuming with Scot McCormack, 30, afterwards.

The Villa boss is already without Jordan Ayew and Jonathan Kodja on African Nations Cup duty.

And Bruce said: “McCormack was, in my opinion, not fit enough to play.

“He won’t play unless his attitude towards missing training improves.

“If it does I’ll consider him again, but if he continually misses training, like he has done, this’ll be the situation.”

When asked if McCormack revealed a reason, Bruce said: “His gates were stuck, that was the latest one.

“But the fence was 4ft 6ins and he couldn’t jump over that as it was raining!

“He’s just not been turning up. There’s been too much indiscipline happening around here for too long, not in 20 years of management have I ever gone down this route before.

“But I feel I have to make a stance, I won’t put up with it on my watch. I only ask one thing, I ask them to come in and enjoy their training, turn up, if I say they’re in at 9.30 or 10.30, then everybody else is in.

“He’s decided. The team picked itself, how can I pick him when he doesn’t want to train.

“It’s happened more than once, let’s put it that way. He based here. I wouldn’t do this if it was just once. Everyone can be late once, but more than that, I can’t accept it.”

Bruce denied McCormack was going to Fulham.

He added: “It hasn’t quite worked for him here, but that doesn’t interest me. I want to get McCormack into a condition to play, he won’t be if he misses training. I won’t put up with it.”

Bruce was unhappy with the result – which leaves Villa without a win in four games – but said: “That’s the best we’ve played since I’ve been here.”

Preston boss Simon Grayson admitted that Hugill’s value had DOUBLED after his latest display.

Ipswich have made a bid for the former Port Vale forward but Grayson says the player is staying put.

Grayson said: “We’re a debt free football club that doesn’t need to sell its best players.

“Jordan’s raw, but he gets in among it and is a handful for defenders.

“He’s scored two goals so he can put his feet up – we don’t need to sell him.

“So if anyone comes knocking, he’s just doubled in value here!”

Villa took the lead after the revitalised Gabby Agbonlahor pushed the ball past keeper Chris Maxwell in a challenge that left both players injured as Albert Adomah tapped in.

Bruce’s men controversially made it two when ref Andrew Madley ruled that Aiden McGeady had fouled Adomah in the area. His assistant said it was not a penalty but Madley stood by his decision and Adomah smashed home his second.

But Preston hit back with a superb 20 yard strike from Hugill who was allowed time and space by Villa after 64 minutes.