Jack Grealish: Highs and Lows in the Aston Villa skipper's career so far

The Lows

Tenerife debacle

By far the biggest low off the pitch for Villa's skipper came right as his career was kicking off.

Pictured on social media in 2015, images showed the Villa man sprawled across a road whilst holidaying in Tenerife surrounded by cigarette packets.

It's a story which has stuck with Grealish since then, and one which he admits he's already learned from.

Nitrous oxide claims

Another serious low as Grealish was emerging onto the professional scene was that of images apparently showing the midfielder inhaling nitrous oxide, otherwise known as 'Hippy Crack'.

Grealish made headline news, once again in 2015 - as he was highlighted by national papers alongside other professional footballers pictured breathing from balloons reportedly filled with the drug.

The midfielder apologised to Tim Sherwood, who was in charge of the club at the time, after the pictures emerged. but the reports raised serious questions over Grealish's off-field antics.

Life-threatening kidney injury

Grealish has had some lows on the pitch too, with the most serious being the life-threatening injury he sustained in 2017.

Villa's talismanic midfielder was involved in a seemingly innocuous challenge with former teammate Tom Cleverley in the pre-season contest - but after being rushed to hospital scans showed serious injury to his kidney.

Grealish was rushed to surgery, with doctors telling the young footballer that he could have died from the injury - which he thankfully recovered from in time to finish the season.

Play-off pain

Pain of a different kind came about for Grealish later that season, as he helped Villa all the way to Wembley for the Championship play-off final - only to fall at the final hurdle.

A Tom Cairney goal was enough to book Fulham's place in the top flight with a 1-0 win over Steve Bruce's side.

In fairness, Grealish almost single handedly drew his team level after a mazy second-half run, but couldn't find a finish to equalise, whilst a first-half challenge on the midfielder from Ryan Fredericks should've also seen the full-back sent off.

Regardless, it was a day to forget for Grealish and Villa - with the club falling into financial disarray in the weeks and months after the Wembley failure.

The Highs

THAT Wembley semi-final

The game which really put his name under the lights - Jack Grealish announced himself to the world with a stunning performance at Wembley against Liverpool.

The Villa youngster was hailed by the national press in the game, in which Villa overturned a 1-0 deficit to win the game 2-1.

Grealish ran the show that day, laying on the assist for Fabian Delph's winner - and earning critical acclaim in doing so.

It was a performance which opened the world's eyes to his undeniable talent.

Captain Jack

A high from a real low came last season for Grealish, having missed months of football through injury and with Villa looking like a side set for a mid-table finish - the midfielder changed everything upon his return.

Dean Smith named Jack Grealish captain of his side ahead of his first-team return against Derby County, and boy did he step up.

In a barnstorming first half, Captain Jack took charge against Frank Lampard's side at Villa Park beginning a run of victories which would see Villa win ten straight league games.

Scoring a tremendous volley to make the score 4-0 at half time, Grealish announced his return in style - and did so as captain of his boyhood club.

Wembley redemption

After his heartache the year before, Jack Grealish and Aston Villa returned to the hallowed turf of Wembley for a second successive play-off final - and this time it ended on a high.

The midfielder, playing a starring role following his return from injury through Villa's miraculous run, led his team out as they secured play-off glory at the second time of asking.

Goals from Anwar El-Ghazi and John McGinn earned Dean Smith's side promotion - and Jack Grealish was at the heart of it all.

Premier League star

Getting to the Premier League is one thing - flourishing within it is another, and Jack Grealish has done just that.

Notching seven goals and six assists in 26 games, Villa's skipper isn't surviving in the top flight, he's thriving within it.

Showing the world just what he's capable of, an England call-up beckons, whilst admiration from clubs far and wide is clear to see.

Goals have come along too for the midfielder - with the pick coming at Old Trafford, silencing doubters who failed to see Grealish's quality in previous seasons.