JERMAINE Jenas has urged the Villa Park crowd to help the players express themselves after Alex McLeish confirmed the midfielder is in his plans this weekend.

Jenas will join his team-mates for full training tomorrow and Friday with a view to being on the bench for Saturday’s clash with Norwich.

Jenas is relishing his first appearance in front of the claret and blue faithful as a Villa player after being impressed by the Villa Park atmosphere as a visitor.

And he believes the fans have the power to either inspire or inhibit McLeish’s men depending on their level of support.

“It’s difficult to put the crowd’s role into words,” said Jenas, who has recovered from the thigh and Achilles problems which have sidelined him since his first week of training.

“It’s having another 50 per cent in your energy levels and your performance levels.

“You get so much confidence hearing that crowd roar. If you make a mistake you’ll try something again without any fear of reprisal.

“You might try and get past someone and he nicks it off you, but if you’ve got the crowd’s backing you’ll try it again, go by him and score.

“If you’re low on confidence and the crowd get on your back, you might just pass it inside the second time because it’s the easy option.