Thursday 25 August 2016 17:11, UK
Ross McCormack insists there are no "bad eggs" at Aston Villa, and says the current squad have been first class under new manager Roberto Di Matteo.
McCormack joined Villa from Fulham in the summer for a Championship-record £12m, which could rise to £14m with add-ons, one of seven first-team recruits as Villa look to bounce back to the Premier League.
They finished bottom last season with just 17 points, and though he was told there were negative characters in the dressing room at Villa, the Scot told EFL Weekly Podcast that he has seen nothing to suggest those rumours were true.
"I heard a lot coming to the club, from people not really associated with the club, that there were a lot of bad eggs in the changing room.
"But I have to say since I've been here there's been not one player who you think: 'You need to get him out because he's unsettling the dressing room.'
"Everyone has been first class in their application to what the manager wants.
"The new signings, the ambition, has blown me away a little bit. They've spent money on very, very good players to give us the best chance."
McCormack, who has just turned 30, scored 42 goals in 100 appearances for Fulham, having hit a similar ratio with Leeds.
The Glasgow-born striker, who has one goal so far for Villa, says the price tag does not put him under pressure, and is a testament to his performances over the past five years.
"I can't control that, you're only worth what someone is willing to pay for you," he said.
"It's a compliment to what I've done in the past three years that a club the size of Villa were willing to pay what they did.
"I've said it before, I can understand why [Premier League clubs didn't sign me]. I've never played in the Premier League, and apart from the past three seasons in a row, there's always been a good season and a bad season."
Villa, who have five points from their first four Championship games, travel to Bristol City on Saturday.
