No more slip ups - Di Matteo gives one last chance to Aston Villa player
By Tom Blacburn
Roberto Di Matteo has warned Jack Grealish that his Aston Villa career will be in jeopardy if he makes any more slip-ups.
The attacking midfielder has endured a turbulent time since breaking into the Villa first team and has twice been left out of the squad as punishment for late night drinking.
The 20-year-old has also has struggled with injuries and consistency, but has shown in glimpses in the Premier League and for England Under-21s that he is a genuine talent.
Grealish vowed last month to put his disciplinary issues behind him and his new manager has praised the player's attitude in pre-season.
"In Jack I see a young flower that is blossoming," Di Matteo said, as quoted by the
. "
He is a very joyful young man and we should not forget he is a young man - we all made mistake when we are young and we use that experience to develop.
"I can only judge on what I have seen and he has been tremendous. He has learned. I think he knows he can’t slip up anymore."
Grealish featured in just 16 Premier League games last season, coming off the bench seven times in Villa’s failed domestic campaign and notching just a single goal.
Grealish played for Republic of Ireland as a youngster before deciding to pledge his international duty to England and has rewarded his nation already as he picked up the 2016 Toulon Tournament with the Under-21 team.
In other Aston Villa news, their fans have reacted on Twitter to Di Matteo telling Lescott he can leave on a free.