MX23RW : Saturday, March 6 12:30:39| >> :120:62951:62951:

Dean Smith keen to move on from Jack Grealish injury drama

Dean Smith keen to move on from Jack Grealish injury drama
© Reuters
Jack Grealish remains injured for Aston Villa's trip to Leeds.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has drawn a line under any controversy surrounding Jack Grealish's injury.

The manager was unhappy news of the skipper's injury emerged on social media ahead of Sunday's defeat to Leicester last week.

It inadvertently came from players and staff who transferred the midfielder out of their Fantasy Premier League teams.

Grealish remains missing for Villa's trip to Leeds on Saturday with a shin problem and Smith has moved on from any debate.

"It must be a slow news week if this is the lead manager's question," Smith told a press conference.

"I don't play it, I live in the real world not the fantasy world. Yes I was made aware of it.

"Am I aware that it could be tracked? No, I don't think a lot of the other players and staff were as well but I've reminded everybody at the football club of their responsibilities of being a member of staff at an elite football club.

"I'm sure they won't be certainly making that same mistake again after knowing what they know now."

Smith remains hopeful Grealish could return for Tuesday's trip to Sheffield United after sitting out the 2-1 defeat to the Foxes – the first Premier League match he had missed since November 2019.

"He's getting better. He won't be ready for tomorrow but he's getting better," he said.

"As I said last week, there's been an awful lot of speculation where Jack is involved. People speculated how long he's going to be out for – I'm not sure how they can do that when I don't know, the doctor doesn't know and Jack doesn't know.

"I was very vague last week because it's a bit of a strange injury. Jack could be back to play against Sheffield United next Tuesday or Wolves next week. We'll be led by Jack on that."

Matty Cash (hamstring), Kortney Hause (foot) and Wesley (knee) also remain out.

Villa sit eighth ahead of their trip to Elland Road, a point ahead of Leeds, and Smith believes the teams are evenly matched.

He added: "Leeds have hit the ground running and found that it's a real tough league and you can be inconsistent. They've done fantastically well and there are similarities between how both teams play."

ID:436866:cQx:QQ:
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa pictured on February 14, 2021
Read Next:
Marcelo Bielsa wants Jack Grealish to face Leeds
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Coupe de France
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Eerste Divisie
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Australian A-League
J1 League
Gallagher Premiership
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City27205256173965
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd27149453322151
3Leicester CityLeicester27155746311550
4Chelsea27138642251747
5Everton2614483933646
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham2613674031945
7Liverpool27127847351243
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs26126842271542
9Aston Villa251231038271139
10Arsenal26114113427737
11Leeds UnitedLeeds26112134344-135
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2797112837-934
13Crystal Palace2797112943-1434
14Southampton2686123144-1330
15Burnley2778121935-1629
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton26511102633-726
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2675142744-1726
18Fulham27411122133-1223
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2738162056-3617
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2742211643-2714

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!