Super Jack Grealish reaping rewards of long Aston Villa lay-off
Jack Grealish may have benefited from his long spell on the sidelines, according to Villa assistant boss Colin Calderwood.
Grealish has been in superb form for Villa during their six-game winning run in the Championship and put in a man-of-the-match performance against Burton at the weekend. The 22-year-old playmaker scored with a volley, hit the bar with a curling shot and was denied what looked a clear penalty at the end of a sweeping move – only for referee David Coote to add insult to injury by booking him for diving.
And Calderwood feels Grealish’s long lay-off with a kidney injury – suffered in an accidental clash in pre-seaon with former team-mate Tom Cleverley – could be the reason why the lifelong Villa fan is showing such imperious form at the moment.
“Funnily enough, the injury at the start of the season, I don’t know if it’s helped but it looks as though it may have done,” said Calderwood.
“It has given him a bit of rest – extra rest. And that slow introduction into training and then back into the team. He’s certainly come back physically very, very strong and he’s worked very, very well at the training ground. “
And Calderwood paid tribute to Grealish’s efforts away from the pitch to improve himself as a player.
“It’s always good to see that amount of honesty, effort and endeavour get rewarded allied to his undoubted talent,” said the Scot. “He looks like a man now. He looks powerful.”
