OPINION
Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish has long been viewed as his team’s most valuable player, and he proved just why in his return from injury against Derby County on Saturday.
The 23-year-old had not played for Dean Smith’s side since early December when he returned to Villa Park against the Rams, but he looked just as sharp as ever in a trademark performance.
He really was superb on Saturday. He justified his selection as captain by playing the ball over the top for Villa’s first goal, while his own strike was as good as you’ll see all season.
Villa worked a terrific corner routine when the ball was chipped to Grealish on the edge of the box, and the Englishman arrowed a sublime volley past Scott Carson and into the visitors’ net.
It was an unbelievable goal and it underlined how technically gifted the young man really is. He has been massively missed by Smith’s team over the past couple of months and never was that more obvious than in his return to action on Saturday.
Tammy Abraham’s goals are clearly vital, while Tyrone Mings has made a big impact since his January arrival from Bournemouth, but Grealish is undoubtedly the main man at Villa Park.
The challenge in the future will, of course, be to keep the playmaker at the club moving forward. Tottenham Hotspur have long been linked with the Villa man, and this sort of form will have done nothing to dissuade Mauricio Pochettino from making another move for him.
For now, though, Grealish is busy reminding everyone just what a good player he is and why he is without doubt the single most important player at Villa Park – something the fans were surely already thinking.