Aston Villa made a timely return back into the Premier League as they ran out winners in the Championship Play-Off Final on Monday.

The Villans have been hugely impressive since the turn of the year in particular, and look like a completely different side, to what they were previously like under the management of Steve Bruce.

But Dean Smith has come in and brought back the feel-good factor at Villa Park, which seems to have inspired his players in their rapid rise up the league table.

Smith and his assistant John Terry have been impressive in their first spell together in charge of the Villans this season.

But Terry’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed, as he’s been linked to the Middlesbrough job recently according to The Guardian.

The former Chelsea man has spoken out on his future as a manager in the game in an interview with Sky Sports.

"In the long run, that's obviously my ambition but I'm not thinking that. I've said as a player I got to the heights I wanted to get to and I firmly believe I'm a YTS (Youth Training Scheme) again."

Terry insisted that he is keen to work his way up to management, and issued high-praise for Dean Smith, who he works alongside at Villa Park.

"I'm starting right from the very bottom, I'm not afraid to say that, I'm not afraid to do all the dirty work, picking up the cones, the balls, the bibs, that's part of my education.

"I've got a great teacher in Dean so I'm very fortunate to be able to sit there and learn.

An interesting summer awaits for Terry, although his latest comments seem to suggest that he's content with staying with Aston Villa next season in the Premier League.

The Verdict:

It’s only a matter of time before he makes the step into management.

Terry is showing all of the right attributes to succeed as a manager, and he’s evidently respected by the Aston Villa players at this moment in time.

Villa will surely be doing everything they can to keep him at the club for as long as possible.