VILLA’S GREAL BIG DAY

ASTON VILLA fans will hate me for saying it, but Jack Grealish is in the shop window this weekend.

Villa have one hell of a run coming up in the Premier League and, given they’re just a point above the drop zone, they need to start winning soon.

If they go down, Grealish (above) will leave in the summer. It’s a simple financial calculation – too good for the Championship and too valuable to risk a relegated club not selling.

I rate him. Highly. He came on my radar properly in the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool back in 2015.

I remember him playing so well and showing incredible promise.

This season we’ve seen him go well past that stage, and I’ve seen enough to be convinced he will end up at a top-six club at the very least.

The game against City is a chance for him to grab the limelight and prove he deserves to be on the biggest of stages.

Let’s face it, Villa won’t have much of the ball in the final and Grealish won’t get much service. If he doesn’t do much, then you’d forgive him and expect that really.

But, if he can impose himself on the game, make a real impression against one of the best sides in the world, then it sends out a message.

So it’s a big game for him – and for Villa. They need some momentum, with two Midlands derbies and games against Liverpool, United and Chelsea coming up.

Victory at Wembley would be massive in terms of confidence and belief, and just in getting back to winning again.

And, if Grealish inspires it, then it will be massive for the club in terms of boosting his potential fee.