‘SET JACK FREE LIKE LE TISSIER’

MARK WALTERS says allowing Jack Grealish to roam free like Matt Le Tissier used to could be the key to Aston Villa’s relegation battle.

Boyhood Villa fan Walters – who grew up in Aston and went to Holte School – believes that boss Dean Smith could learn a lesson from history and save his club from the drop.

But Walters is at a loss to understand why a coaching staff that includes former Chelsea and England star John Terry has been unable to plug holes in the Villa defence.

Villa legend Walters, 56, said: “They don’t seem to have a game-plan. They’ve tried every system going. It seems to be off-the-cuff.

“They’ve got some decent players. The coaching staff look fantastic. Terry was a fantastic defender – one of the best of his era – but Villa have the worst defensive record in the Premier League. That doesn’t make sense.

“And now, they’re not scoring goals. I’m very disappointed they are in the drop zone. They might think they deserve more, but two points is a poor return since the restart. It’s not looking good.

“They probably need six or seven points. But confidence seems low.

“For me, I’d play Jack (right) as a No.10, pulling the strings. Get a solid system behind him and just let him cause havoc. I liked the way Matt Le Tissier played for Southampton when Alan Ball was manager. Saints had a solid system and Ball said to him, ‘You just do what you want’.”

Walters added:

“Losing John Mcginn from midfield to his long-term injury was a big blow. He’s playing again but will take time to fully recover. It could be next season before he’s in the groove.

“Villa do have decent footballers but playing in the heat is such a big factor too – players who have to work hard, run a lot, are finding it tough. It’s no surprise that teams with real technical players are doing so well.”