Smith tipped to axe Aston Villa star to start Grealish v Tottenham after training update
Alan Hutton has tipped Jack Grealish to return to the Aston Villa starting XI against Tottenham on Wednesday.
The former Villa defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 25-year-old would be “bursting” to play in the final two games of the season.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Dean Smith admitted he would have to talk with Grealish and the medical staff before deciding whether he would start at Spurs.
The attacking talisman missed 12 games due to a shinbone injury suffered back in February.
He has since featured as a substitute against Everton and Crystal Palace.
Despite Smith’s cautiousness over Grealish, Hutton tipped the 25-year-old to return to the starting XI in north London.
“It’s massive for him,” Hutton told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.
“I think they’ve done it the right way. It could be easy just to fire him in against Everton and say there you go. Then you run the risk of the injury coming back you don’t want that because he’s been a huge miss.
“What was it, 12 games he missed? Anybody could tell how big a miss he actually was. They’ve been careful with him, which I think’s perfect. I think he’s a naturally fit boy, he’ll be raring to go. I’ve got a feeling that he will start the next game.
“He’s been such a huge miss, just his presence on the pitch, his ability to make things happen. That’s where Villa have really struggled in those 12 games. So I think it’s about time to get him back in now.
“He’ll be bursting to play these two games to show Gareth Southgate he’s fit and raring to go.”
Smith started with an attacking three of Ollie Watkins, Anwar El Ghazi and Bertrand Traore against Palace.
Grealish replaced the latter of the trio just after the hour mark to make his second appearance since his injury layoff.
In other news, Aston Villa star has rejected a new contract and verbally agreed to join Premier League rivals after landing a more lucrative deal.