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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has confirmed that Jack Grealish is in his thinking for Saturday’s Championship clash with Derby County.
What’s the update from Smith?
The Express & Star quotes Smith as saying:
“This gives everyone a boost. It has been well documented that results-wise it has not been good. I don’t put that just down to Jack.
“He’s trained well so is available for selection. Whether he starts or not, we will wait and see but he has trained well enough. He is pushing for a starting spot on Saturday.
“I have said before I believe he is the best player in the league and any team that loses a player of that quality would suffer. We have suffered a little bit through Jack’s loss. It will be nice to have him back.”
Well, Smith has not confirmed that Grealish will start the clash with Derby, but that seems very likely as the club chases a result.
According to the Villa boss, Grealish ‘is the best player in the league’, which will have certainly boosted the midfielder’s ego as he closes on a return.
There is no question that the 23-year-old has been missed and Villa need him to hit the ground running on his return, which will come against Derby, regardless of whether that is from the start or off the bench.
How has Grealish performed this season?
The Englishman played 21 Championship games for Villa earlier this season before picking up a shin injury against West Bromwich Albion in December.
The 5ft 9in ace has contributed two goals and four assists this term and had been in very good form before he picked up his injury.
Indeed, three of the attacker’s assists and two of his goals came in the six games before he was ruled out for what has proved to be 13 league matches thus far.
Villa have not won in the Championship since the end of January, drawing three and losing two of their last five in the second tier.
The importance of the clash with Derby simply cannot be downplayed as Smith’s side chase a playoff position.
And the return of Grealish has come at the perfect time.