JACK FROM THE BRINK
How a kidney injury and time with John Terry saw Grealish turn his back on partying and realise his potential
JACK GREALISH has learned the hard way that success in football cannot be taken for granted.
The Aston Villa ace was infamously pictured passed out in the street in Tenerife three years ago (right) after being tipped as football’s next superstar. Ridicule, the reserves and relegation subsequently dogged the then-teenager.
Memories of his heroics lighting up Wembley in Villa’s shock 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool in 2015, with a hand in both goals, faded.
Then last summer, a freak kidney injury in Villa’s final preseason friendly, saw him spend 10 days in hospital.
But Mirror Sport can reveal the solitude and scariness of his serious plight in his own room, where weight fell off him, had a profound effect on Grealish.
The once scrawny youngster has returned a powerful muscular man after hours of dedication in the gym and a newly-forged relationship with former England captain John Terry has helped him immensely.
He is starting to finally fulfil his potential on the pitch too, where he has been the key man in Villa’s run of seven successive wins to climb to second in the Championship.
Now pundits are again tipping the Villa ace with pin-up looks for the top with his boyhood team on course to return to the Premier League.
Contract talks with Grealish, 22, are on hold until the summer in the hope that following promotion, the £20,000-a-week ace, who has two-anda-half-years left, will earn a bumper new long-term deal.
Many more performances like his in the Second City derby win over Birmingham should ensure Villa go up and he is again in demand.
Grealish was subbed to a standing ovation which left Sky commentator Gary Weaver purring: “The local boy has shown just why he could potentially have the world at his feet.” And Grealish said: “I’ve come back fitter and stronger and hopefully I can take this form on until the end of the season and we can get promoted.”
It was the latest impressive game from Grealish who is flourishing under the stability of Steve Bruce’s reign and the advice of Terry. They often ‘chill’ at the training ground in the afternoon as Surrey-based Terry regularly stays up in the Midlands.
It has even seen the duo still at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground past 7pm to relax and have an ice bath. Terry’s professionalism has made Grealish understand the dedication necessary to reach the top.
Since he returned in November Grealish has scored once and provided four assists – the latter enabling enabled Albert Adomah to open the scoring against Blues. Adomah, who has 14 goals, this season, said: “Jack’s been immense. He does his magic on the pitch. He gets assists, can create things and scores himself.”
Only six months ago Grealish was lying in agony in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital having undergone an overnight operation to repair a cut kidney.
He went up for a header with Tom Cleverley and in a freak accident took the Watford player’s knee underneath his ribs.
But the op was a success and Grealish was later discharged after visits from Villa owner Dr Tony Xia and Bruce, who used to FaceTime the player regularly.
Bruce’s reign has enabled him to blossom as Grealish had six different managers before he turned 21 at crisis-plagued Villa. Now there is firm belief at the club Grealish will not get carried away by his current success despite promising to “enjoy” the derby win amid rave reviews.
Villa assistant Colin Calderwood added: “I don’t think that will affect him. There will be games that are boring and normal and he will need to be boring and normal.”