Stan is sure Jack’s the lad for top-flight
VILLA’S Jack Grealish has been tipped to be a “huge asset for the next five or six years”.
Former Villa striker Stan Collymore reckons Grealish has the ability to shine in the Premier League. But he believes the 22-year-old playmaker still needs to perform more consistently.
“Now is his time to come good,” said Collymore. “I remember watching Jack in an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. I was there as a Villa fan, my two former clubs going head to head, and he was sensational. Then, as always, as British-based players are, he was pitched as the next great thing.
“What Jack needs to do now is make sure Aston Villa get back to the Premier League and then start to put in Premier League performances week in, week out. Does he have the ability? Absolutely. Does he have the consistency? Not yet, no, but if he finds it then Villa have a huge asset for the next five or six years.”
Collymore reckons Villa will struggle to catch leaders Wolves but is confident Steve Bruce’s men can go up.
“I don’t think there has ever been any doubt about their ability to go up,’’ said Collymore.
“But can they catch Wolves? Doubtful, but absolutely they can go up in second place.”
Meanwhile, Steve Bruce is targeting the Championship title after Villa kept up the pressure at the top of table with a comprehensive 3-0 win over struggling Sunderland on Tuesday night.
Villa host league leaders Wolves at Villa Park this weekend and second-placed Cardiff also have to travel to Villa before the end of the campaign.
Bruce admits a play-off place will still be a decent achievement but he has not ruled out a late push to the summit. He said: “Can we still win the league? I said before it would take an almighty, calamitous crash for Wolves to blow up, but anything is possible.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance and that’s important for a club like ours. We’ve got Wolves, Cardiff and Derby at home, so it’s all to play for.
“We’ve won nine out of 11 and people are still above us. Fulham and Cardiff are having a great run as well, but we’re going well. We’ve got Wolves this weekend, and if we can turn them over, we’ll have a great chance.”
Bruce has been watching Sunderland’s collapse in the last few years with interest, and sees similarities between his former club’s plight and the situation he inherited at Villa. He said: “With us, it was a new owner, new direction, and that’s what this club needs. There needs to be a change, they’re finding it very difficult. It’s a great club, but if you don’t do it properly, you get in a mess.”