Key to promotion: This Aston Villa ace is 2016 most improved player of the year
COMMENT by Amir Mir
Football Insider names the most improved Aston Villa player for 2016.
Jack Grealish has been the most improved Aston Villa player in 2016, despite having an up and down year both on the pitch and off it.
The 21-year-old suffered relegation with his boyhood club in May, he was then suspended at the start of their Championship campaign, but has since rediscovered his form on the field of play.
Grealish has proven towards the latter stages of the year, in particular since Steve Bruce arrived at Villa Park, that he is key to their promotion push this season.
The midfielder has scored three goals and provided four assists in the second tier this term and he will need to continue that form, if Villa are to gain promotion.
In 34 Premier League games, over the course of two seasons, the youngster managed just one goal and one assist.
Understandably, he is finding more space on the pitch since dropping down a league, but his ability to control the ball at his own pace and beat opposition players has been on view a number of times.
Those performances have also seen Villa’s academy player become a huge part of the England under 21 set-up.
Having made his debut for the Three Lions youngsters in May, Grealish has gone on to make six appearances, scoring two goals and supplying two assists.
Now, he will be looking to take his positive form into the new year and more importantly help the Midlands club claim a top six finish.
In other Aston Villa news, supporters on Twitter react with mixed views to reports that the club will seal this £7 million striker deal.