STEVE BRUCE is ready to launch a desperate S.O.S. to John Terry in a bid to persuade the 37-year-old warrior to return to Aston Villa.

SunSport can exclusively reveal the under-fire Villa boss wants new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens to sanction a dramatic return for the veteran defender.

4 Steve Bruce signed John Terry for Villa at the start of last season... and now wants him back Credit: Getty Images

And if the Villa Park supremos give their blessing, Bruce will challenge Chelsea legend JT to ‘Save Our Season’.

Terry made 36 appearances for the Villans last season and captained them in their play-off final defeat to Fulham at Wembley in May.

After a promising three-game winning start to the new campaign, Villa have slipped to 12th in the Championship and already trail leaders Leeds and Middlesbrough by five points after six games.

The heat increased on 57- year-old Brucie when his side crashed to a 4-1 thumping at Sheffield United on Saturday.

4 Bruce is under pressure after Villa were hammered 4-1 at Sheffield United on Saturday Credit: PA:Empics Sport

4 Terry left Villa after their play-off defeat to Fulham on May 26 Credit: Getty Images

In their previous match Bruce slammed his players after they were bundled out of the Carabao Cup by Burton Athletic.

Alarmingly, Villa have kept just one clean sheet this season – against League Two strugglers Yeovil Town.

The Villa boss reacted by letting former skipper Tommy Elphick join Hull City on loan, however he was unable to get any deadline day incoming deals over the line.

Bruce had a £7million bid for Aberdeen’s promising young Scotland defender Scott McKenna turned down at the 11th hour and also failed to land Frenchman Harold Moukoudi from Le Havre on loan.

Now with his defensive options crumbling and captain James Chester his only reliable centre-back, he is poised to launch a sensational bid to bring Terry back to Villa Park where fans took him to their hearts for his never-say-die attitude last season.

John Terry turns up for Marseille pre-season training after leaving Aston Villa

4 Credit: Instagram

Terry was close to tears when he bid them an emotional farewell at Wembley in May.

Since then the defender has been on holiday in Portugal mulling over which direction his career should take next.

His massive profile has led to offers from China, the MLS, the Middle East, while Brendan Rodgers was rumoured to be keen to take him to Celtic.

Terry has also been courted by the media, and speculation linked with a career-changing move to Sky Sports who were supposedly lining him up as a possible successor to Thierry Henry.

However the lure of playing has always been a powerful draw for Terry who still has ambitions to become a boss in his own right.

Villa could offer the super-fit 37-year-old another opportunity to end his playing career on a high by leading them back to the Premier League before taking that route.