Aston Villa and winger sure to benefit from second-tier stint
Published:
When opportunities are limited at a Premier League club the decision to pack bags for the Championship on loan is a well-travelled and often fruitful road for young players.
In this case, the conditions once again seem mutually beneficial for one of Aston Villa’s brighter prospects, Jack Grealish.
The 19-year-old winger has remained on the outer fringes for Paul Lambert’s strugglers this season, making 10 appearances including two starts, but is yet to line up from the first whistle in the Premier League.
Now it appears the January arrival of Spaniard Carles Gil will obstruct Grealish’s first-team chances yet further, especially given the instant impact the Valencia import has made.
Gil scored a beauty in just his second Villans appearance to help knock Championship leaders Bournemouth out of the FA Cup, which Villa are now 20/1 to win facing Leicester at home in the sixth round next.
In fact, it is complimentary to Grealish’s abilities that the Cherries are one of several promotion-chasing clubs in the second tier who’ve expressed an interest in the youngster.
Wolves are the apparent frontrunners in a queue involving Brentford and Ipswich as well, while Nottingham Forest and Brighton are also in the mix according to the Birmingham Mail.
Villa boss Lambert may also hope that a stint away from the club may help his development as a maturing adult after the Scot fined the player for abusing social media.
A provocative tweet just last month read “can’t wait to be happy playing football again.”
Some regular playing time is just what the doctor ordered for the teenager, who may well come back to Villa a far better player for it.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £25 in free bets.
