It’s long been rumoured that free agent Robert Pires could be coming to Aston Villa and Gary McAllister has just confirmed that the Frenchman will be “joining in the next two or three days“.

We’ll have to see in what capacity he’ll join, although he’s apparently been training with Arsenal, even if he arrives in tip-top shape, he’s still 37. That said, he is, or was, an exceptionally good player and having a World Cup and European Championship winner available for the likes of Albrighton and Bannan to look up to will do absolutely no harm whatsoever. He could be worth his weight in gold.

I, for one, certainly welcome his arrival. As a free agent, since we didn’t use our full quota of the new Premier League 25 man squad, he can be added to play straight away. I wouldn’t expect to see him bombing up and down the flanks for 90 minutes, but I’m certain he can come in to play some significant part in games, injecting some experience and creativity when we need it.

This also must mean that Birmingham is a beautiful city since Pires snubbed a move to Philadelphia earlier this year saying “[I don’t] want to be fussy but if I have to go far away with my family, I prefer to do it in a beautiful town.”

Or it’s close. You know, either way.

Hey Bobby, what’s French for Up The Villa? (I know, wrong Frenchman, but it sort of works, cut me some slack).