Grealish catches the eye of old boy Barry

JACK GREALISH has the backing of former Premier League title winner Gareth Barry to impress in Project Restart.

Grealish, above, and Keinan Davis scored Aston Villa’s goals in a 2-2 draw againstWest Bromwich Albion in a friendly on Saturday, with Kamil Grosicki and Filip Krovinovic on target for the visitors.

Ex-Manchester City midfielder Barry was back atVilla Park with the Baggies, and the former Villa skipper, 39, is thought to have told Grealish afterwards he was “class” and that he scored a great goal.

Grealish, 24, should be back in action atVilla Park on June 17 in his side’s first game back against Sheffield United. He will need to be on form, with Villa 19th in the table.

Grealish has seven goals and six assists in the top flight this season, making him a £70million target for Manchester United.

The Old Trafford club are set to make a strong move for Grealish irrespective of whether the Midlands club go down or stay up.

Grealish is likely to be the latestVilla star to leave the club in a big-money move following Ashley Young, James Milner, Stewart Downing and Barry, who quit for City in a £12m deal in 2009.

He won the FA Cup and Premier League at City and finished up with 53 England caps.

Barry is out of contract atWest Brom this summer and looking to help the Championship club to win promotion.