JOHN Gregory's signing of Peter Schmeichel was today hailed as "inspired" by Aston Villa director and former England manager Graham Taylor.

Taylor believes that the former Manchester United goalkeeper is one of the captures of the season after being signed in the summer by John Gregory from FC Porto under the Bosman ruling.

Eyebrows raised when Gregory decided to put his faith in a 37-year-old - even someone of the class of Schmeichel.

The player had admitted that the demands of the Premiership had been a key reason for quitting Old Trafford.

But Schmeichel has been back in the kind of form that made him the hero of the United fans and on Saturday he even scored against Everton.

Taylor said: "Schmeichel is looking like one of the best signings in the Premiership so far this season and John Gregory deserves credit for that.

"If that hadn't come off it could have been very, very difficult for John. As a previous manager of around 30 years experience, I know that some transfers work out and other's don't.

"But it has worked well. A signing like Schmeichel is inspired."