Leaked holiday photos, a demotion to the under-21’s and an unwanted premier league record; all within the space of a single season. But does his new deal signal a change, for talented Jack Grealish?
After helping Notts County escape relegation in 2014, arguably against the odds, Jack Grealish first came onto the scene as an 87th-minute substitute in Villa’s penultimate premier league fixture against Manchester City, just a couple of weeks later.
His first start followed the next January, in an FA cup tie against Blackpool at Villa Park. His big day, however, came in the FA cup semi-final. He played a hand in both of their goals that day as Aston Villa progressed to the final at the expense of Liverpool before they were eventually undone in the final, against Arsenal.
In just a twelve-month period, Grealish went from being an unknown, unproven kid to the next big thing in English football. As the usual story goes, however, the speculation became too much to handle and the 2015-16 saw him badly lose his way.
He went from being a talked about superstar, to first of all being demoted to the under-21’s for off the field antics and, secondly, becoming the first premier league player to ever lose all sixteen fixtures that he was involved in.
Off the field antics and an obvious blip in form has seen him drift away from the limelight but we must remember that he is still that same talented lad. One who, if he finds his form again, has a massive future at the top of the pyramid.
The new deal must mean a new beginning, to forget what has happened before and a chance to get his head down again.
Otherwise, that obvious talent will go to waste.
