Jack Grealish completed another step towards mach fitness on Monday night as he turned out for Aston Villa’s under-23 side. The young star has not played for the senior side this season due to a kidney injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Watford. But you knew all that, what we don’t know is how Jack fits into Bruce’s current team.
Grealish is arguably the most naturally gifted player in the squad, he has the rare ability of being able to go past defenders without pace. He can score from anywhere and he plays with his head up which allows him to spot his team mates forward runs. To add to this, he has the passing range to get the ball to them. Again you knew all that and the question is still unanswered.
The answer then, is that he doesn’t, as long as Bruce keeps playing 4-4-2 at least. So to play Greaslish, Villa will have to change their system, again. So that answers that, but raises another more complicated question of should the system be changed to fit Grealish in ?
The obvious answer is no, Villa have won 4 out of 5 with this formation but is it worth wasting the talents of Grealish simply because you played well against Burton and Barnsley ? No, no it is not. 4-4-2 has already failed it’s first big test and to stick to it stubbornly when a player of Jack’s talent is waiting in the wings would be folly.
Grealish is a player with the keys to all the locks and Villa need him. Bruce needs to show him the same faith and patience that he’s shown other young lions like Davis and Green. He needs to have a definitive role in the team and be given the time to make that role his.
Jack Grealish could well be the difference between the Premier League and the Championship. Bruce nor Grealish cannot afford to get his return wrong. His talent deserves a place in this Villa team but he has to work to get that place first and Bruce needs to make sure it’s the right place
Players with the amount of talent as Jack Grealish don’t come along in the Championship very often and Villa cannot afford to waste it
