Villa duo feed play-off charge

ASTON VILLA pals Jack Grealish and John Mcginn are giving their manager food for thought – in more ways than one.

The midfield duo have their own special Thursday night meal ritual, but boss Dean Smith is not invited.

And Smith (below) insists a wild card is the last thing he wants as he might end up picking up the tab.

Villa go into a crunch clash with play-off rivals Bristol City today looking to make it eight wins on the spin.

Hoping to drive them on are Mcginn, who has four goals in the last five games, and buddy Grealish – who has hit the net three times in that winning run.

Smith said: “Jack and John are thick as thieves. They’ve got this ritual now of going out to eat on a Thursday night – I’m not sure their girlfriends approve.

“They pop off as a couple and have a meal. I wasn’t invited. But it’s an invite I’d rather not have to be honest because they’d want me to foot the bill!”

Smith said it is a bond which shows up on the pitch so he is happy for his foodie duo to carry on doing it.

He added: “They get on really well. They have a similar sense of humour and because they play so close to each other, it can only help.”

Grealish reckons Scotland star Mcginn was the bargain buy of the season at just £2.5million.

He said: “Ginny has been unbelievable and is easily the buy of the season. I absolutely adore playing alongside him. “He counts as two people and I don’t mean the size of his head, either! Honestly, he is just so brilliant.

“He is such a good lad and so popular around the training ground. I said to him the other day I am not sure who I would choose between him and Fabian Delph.

“I loved playing with him when he was here and Ginny reminds me of him.

“The way they are both so eager to get the ball back and their work off the ball is really incredible.”

Grealish added: “But both players are great with the ball at their feet, too He has given us a massive boost.

“When he was suspended, I think he needed a little rest because he had played pretty much every minute. He needed the rest and now he has come back in he is unbelievable.”