JACK’S A LITTLE MARVEL
Former Villa boss says Grealish is a cut above and could inspire club to their first trophy in 24 years
THE funky haircut, the swagger, the box-office appeal.
Jack Grealish is the current king of Villa Park, but Brian Little knows a thing or two about being an icon at Aston Villa – not to mention an eyecatching barnet.
Little (right) joined the Midlanders as a 17-year-old in 1970 and in 10 years at the club the gifted striker won two League Cups and two promotions.
He returned as manager in 1994 and led the club to more League Cup glory in 1996, Villa’s last piece of silverware.
Grealish was just six months old when Villa beat Leeds 3-0 at Wembley 24 years ago, and he will be desperate to emulate some of Little’s success against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
“The stage is set for Jack,” said Little, who now represents Villa as a club ambassador. “He is a top player without a doubt. He has matured now. The captaincy has made him even better.
“He has a bit of everything. He has shown what he is about all season. I am a massive fan – he is a mega talent.
“The club has had a lot of good players in the last 25 years when you think about Ashley Young, Gareth Barry and James Milner. “But Jack is Jack and that is the most important thing. He has his own identity and you have to let him be himself.”
City are red-hot favourites for Sunday’s final after already beating struggling Villa twice in the Premier League.
Their victories included a 6-1 win at Villa Park last month, when only a 90th-minute penalty spared the hosts the ignominy of equalling their worst Premier League loss.
They head into Sunday’s game with harsh words from Villa boss and lifelong fan Dean Smith still ringing after a third successive loss, a 2-0 defeat at Southampton at the weekend.
Little, a managerial veteran of 902 games at six levels, added: “Dean was mightily disappointed after Saturday’s game at Southampton.
“That hurt him. But sometimes it is important to hit the wall in life. You bounce off that wall and come out fighting.
“There will be an extra determination from him and hopefully the players as well to really make it difficult for City. These big teams don’t win every game.”
If Villa do upset the odds, Little insists he will be delighted to lose the tag of ‘last Villa boss to win silverware.’
He said: “I can’t dissociate myself from being the last manager to do it. But I won’t mind if it never comes up again.
“If Dean does win I will be so pleased for him. I share a bit of pain watching the games with his family sometimes, we sit close to each other.
“I know how much it means to them, they love the club and Sunday will be an incredible day for them.”
Yet if Villa are to shock the bookies on Sunday and beat City, it surely won’t be as emphatic as Little’s own success.
Leeds United, Villa’s opponents at Wembley 24 years ago, had won the First Division only four years earlier and still boasted stars like Scottish international Gary Mcallister and Wales ace Gary Speed.
But Villa brushed them aside 3-0 with goals from Savo Milosevic, Ian Taylor and Dwight Yorke.
Little recalled: “Savo scored a smashing goal. He and Dwight were a great partnership and Ian Taylor, who was a lifelong Villa