HIPPY CRACK JACK ‘ASHAMED’
JACK GREALISH feels ashamed about inhaling nitrous oxide through a balloon and has assured Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood he will not repeat his mistake.
Sherwood told his young winger, who inspired Villa to FA Cup semi- final victory over Liverpool on Sunday, that such behaviour could not be tolerated by the club.
Grealish, 19, was pictured taking so-called ‘hippy crack’, a legal high, after a night out nearly a year ago, with the image published in The Sun on Thursday.
Raheem Sterling, 20, and Saido Berahino, 21, have been pictured doing the same recently and the PFA will look to increase their education to players on the risks of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.
Users say it creates feelings of euphoria and light-headedness but drug advice website Frank warns ‘there is a risk of death as a lack of oxygen can occur’.
Sherwood said yesterday: ‘I’m not pleased. I spoke to Jack first thing this morning as he came in, I explained to him his behaviour can’t be tolerated by the football club.
‘He did not come in here with the “I’m only young, I’m allowed to get away with it” attitude. He was very ashamed and does not like the bad publicity. He’s assured me it won’t happen again.’
Grealish has not been fined over the incident and will be in Villa’s squad for the trip to Manchester City. He was given his first Premier League start on April 7 and has been integral to his side’s success in the past three games. The PFA have noticed a growing trend in the recreational use of nitrous oxide, and will look to adapt their extensive tutoring programmes on substance abuse. John Bramhall, PFA deputy chief executive, said: ‘We’re working with Sporting Chance, delivering the message, and it’s a continuing process. It will change as different issues come into focus.’
The selfie, which shows Grealish and a friend, was taken in a hotel room after a night out, according to The Sun. Sherwood hopes Grealish can learn a lesson, not only about his choices but how such information can come into public knowledge.
‘He’s hurting but he needs to stop hurting,’ said Sherwood. ‘Perhaps a year ago when the photo was taken no-one wanted to know Jack Grealish but now he realises people have taken an awful lot of notice — and he wanted that. If you’re a professional footballer you want to be noticed.
‘But he needs to get on the other side of the paper. I want him to forget about this by tomorrow. I don’t want him to dwell on it. It only really affects me if I let it affect him on the pitch.
‘As I said about Raheem last week, he’s a young man. Jack was even younger a year earlier when the picture was taken. But it doesn’t matter how young he is, he is now in a responsible position as a professional footballer, he’s got to make sure it won’t happen again; he’s assured me it won’t.
‘I’m not worried. To be honest there is only one form of discipline, that’s self- discipline, that’s what really matters. Jack has to take that on board now. This is an eye- opener for him, he has to realise he has to be very careful who he can trust out there.
‘I think he’s a fantastic talent, he’s willing to work hard at it, he will be a big player for the future of Aston Villa football club.’
Grealish, who presented an award at his cousin’s Under 12s team on Tuesday, has thrived on the pitch under the responsibility handed to him by Sherwood.
‘The circumstances probably dictated that I thought, “Why not? Let’s throw the dice. Let’s get him in there”. He’s not let anyone down.’