Jack Grealish edges closer to Aston Villa return

The 23-year-old has already missed more than a month of action due to a shin injury.

But he will resume light training in the coming days, with boss Dean Smith still hopeful he will be back in first-team action early next month.

Villa have won just once in seven Championship games during Grealish’s absence and currently sit seven points behind the top six.

Smith told the club’s official website: “Jack is due to go out and run next week. That’s a big positive for him and us.

“When he gleefully told me today he was due to run outside next week, he said ‘you can arrange a game for me as well!’.

“He’s very keen to get out on the pitch. He has an enthusiasm for playing and wanting to play so we will certainly have to have the reins on him. But I will want him back as soon as we can as well.”

Smith has also received positive news over Glenn Whelan, with the midfielder passed fit after shaking off the shoulder problem which forced him to miss last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hull.

Mile Jedinak, who has not featured since September, played 60 minutes in a 4-2 behind-closed-doors friendly win over Swindon on Tuesday.

Scott Hogan, Anwar El Ghazi, Jonathan Kodjia and Kortney Hause also played in the game at Bodymoor Heath.

Defender Axel Tuanzebe has, meanwhile, taken another step toward recovering from foot surgery. The on loan Manchester United ace is now out of a protective boot and could return toward the end of next month.

Villa’s only setback concerns Henri Lansbury, who is poised to miss another month after aggravating a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old has been limited to just three appearances all season and Smith explained: “He’s in the medical room at the moment. From the scan it looks like it’s the same injury he picked up against Birmingham City in November.

“So it will probably take four or five weeks like the first one.”