Grealish still a month off return as Villa count cost
Jack Grealish is expected to return from injury this month to boost Aston Villa’s promotion push.
The Championship club are targeting the league game at Stoke City on Feb 23 for Grealish to make his comeback from a shin injury.
The attacking midfielder has not played since December after picking up the injury in the 2-2 draw at West Brom, with his absence a damaging blow for head coach Dean Smith.
Grealish has missed 10 games and, in that time, his team have secured just two victories.
Villa are determined to ease the 23-year-old back slowly but there is growing optimism that he could be included in the squad for the Stoke game if his recovery continues as planned. If that is too soon, the home game against promotion contenders Derby on March 2 is seen as a more realistic return date. Villa are four points off the play-off places and Smith said last week that Grealish is making good progress after a recent scan.
He said: “He’s running now and he’s been on the treadmill. He’s nearly [running with] 100 per cent body weight. He’s shown no signs of anything, so hopefully we can get him back as soon as possible.”
Villa have 16 games left this season, including potentially pivotal matches against all eight of the clubs above them in the table.
Smith’s team face third-placed Sheffield United at Villa Park on Friday night.