JAKS DERBY DREAM
Jack’s back with a derby dream
ASTON VILLA are hoping beach boy Jack Grealish can leave arch-rivals Birmingham all at sea.
Local lad Grealish understands better than most about the fierce rivalry of the Second City derby.
Tomorrow Steve Bruce’s men hope to make it seven league wins on the spin and keep Brum firmly in the relegation mix.
Birmingham-born Grealish hopes to be right at the centre of it, saying his dream is to score the winner in front of Villa’s die-hard Holte End.
Assistant boss Colin Calderwood believes the player is at last coming of age after a series of setbacks.
The 22-year-old with the model looks has buckled down and bulked up after a freak injury just before the season began left him needing surgery on a kidney bleed.
Grealish was told to take a complete break after colliding with Watford’s Tom Cleverley in the final pre-season friendly. He’s looked brand new since returning and Calderwood is hoping he’ll prove a key figure against the Blues.
Calderwood said: “You can see he’s a lot stronger now. He’s more powerful and looks more of a man than he did.
Strength
“There’s a natural growth that happens. He’s in nice condition. I’m sure he’d like to be on a beach, showing his body off, on occasions.
“His strength has been the thing a lot of people have commented on.
“That’s a credit to how he’s gone about it because that was a real knock he took in that pre-season game. It took him right back to base camp.”
Calderwood says it’s vital all the Villa players make sure they don’t get wrapped up in the intensity of the occasion.
He added: “It’s sold out and the atmosphere should be incredible. These occasions are great, especially for a local boy like Jack. It’s a good storyline.
“These games can lead even the most experienced player to lose their heads. There are times when you have to turn the other cheek.”
Bruce pipped Brum boss Steve Cotterill to the Championship manager of the month award for January.
He is expected to be back from compassionate leave following dad Joe’s death on Tuesday.