Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has lauded Slaven Bilic for the impact that he has made at West Bromwich Albion this season.

Since being handed over the reins at the Hawthorns last summer, the Croatian has led the club to a great deal of success in the second-tier.

Currently second in the Championship standings, the Baggies boast a six-point lead over promotion rivals Fulham with nine games left to play.

Although the gap between West Brom and the chasing pack has changed in recent months due to a fluctuating run of form, Bilic will be determined to guide the club back to the Premier League in May.

Having been forced to settle for a draw in their clash with Swansea City last Saturday, the Baggies are set to face Birmingham City this weekend.

By beating the Blues, West Brom will temporarily reclaim top-spot from Leeds United before Marcelo Bielsa's side's clash with Cardiff City on Sunday.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World's Chief Editor Sam Rourke about Bilic, Hendrie has commended the 51-yer-old for the job that he has done this season.

The former Villa man said: "Bilic has been brilliant, he really has.

"I'm good pals with Gareth Barry and we have this conversation quite a bit about what he [Bilic] is all about and he says he's old school and he's great around the lads.

"He's been absolutely immense.

"I just feel that he's got that consistency going, obviously West Brom have had little blips this season but they have picked it back up.

"The one thing that I will say is with the squad of players that he has got at his disposal, I was expecting the Baggies to go up from day one really.

"He's brought certain players who fit the bill for him and the style of play that he uses.

"To step-back into a Championship club and take on a West Brom side whose expectations to go up this season were high, Bilic has done an absolutely magnificent job."