OPINION
Jack Grealish has reportedly traveled with the Aston Villa squad to face Sunderland on Tuesday and Steve Bruce must gamble on the midfielder’s fitness and play him.
The Birmingham Mail reported that the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has won the race to be fit for the game against Chris Coleman’s side, after missing the Villans’ last three games due to a calf injury.
The local newspaper revealed that Grealish’s return meant that Bruce had to decide whether to start the midfielder or ease him back into action by naming him on the bench for Tuesday’s game.
Bruce, being an experience manager, knows that bringing a player back too quickly could see them return to the sidelines in no time.
While the Villans’ should have a relatively easy game against Sunderland, given the woeful form the Black Cats are in which has left them bottom of the Championship, Bruce should still gamble and play Grealish.
In the three games that the 22-year-old has missed, Bruce’s side have only managed to win one.
Grealish has become a vital member of the Villans squad, after making 19 appearances this season, and is their main creative threat.
Without the 22-year-old on the pitch, Bruce’s team do not seem to be capable of creating enough opportunities in order for them to win games.
The recent run of form saw the Villans drop out of the automatic promotion places and slip back into third behind Cardiff City.
Bruce’s side are currently four points behind the Bluebirds and know they cannot afford to drop points, especially against the league’s worst side.
Therefore, even though Grealish needs to be protected from returning to the sidelines, if the medical team are confident that he is fit enough to play, then he needs to feature against Sunderland.
As without him, despite the Black Cats’ form, there’s no guarantee the Villans can win.