Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith has sat down with VillaTV to discuss the international period, captain Jack Grealish’s return to training, Sunday’s clash against Fulham and much more.
The Villa boss admits the two-week break in Premier League action has provided an opportunity for his players and coaching staff to reflect on the club’s form over the recent period and work hard on how to turn it around.
Smith provided an update on Villa’s international contingent and their respective returns to Bodymoor Heath, with John McGinn, Tyrone Mings, Ollie Watkins, Bertrand Traore and Trezeguet all in action.
And the Villa boss also spoke of his delight at skipper Grealish’s return to first-team training on Monday.
“He’s joined in and his first session, I must admit, he was very, very good,” Smith told VillaTV.
“It was mouth-watering to see what we’ve been missing a little bit, you sometimes forget how good he actually is until he comes back into training.
“He’s been excellent, as you can imagine.
“He’s missed it, it’s been a frustrating one because there’s nothing visual you can see with the injury he’s had, it was just a shin injury, but we had to wait until he could persevere with the pain he was under.”
Dean added: “It’s under control now. We still have to manage him obviously to make sure his loading is not too much.
“But his tolerance levels are really good with whatever pain is there at the moment.
“And obviously we’ve had scans that have come back really positive as well.
“So he’s looking forward now to getting back to his best.”
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Villa host Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday (ko 4.30pm) and they will be looking to get back to winning ways after a four-match sequence without victory.
Asked whether he was hopeful Grealish might be able to feature against the Cottagers, Smith said: “I am, yes.
“That was the aim, when it first happened we looked at the calendar and thought Fulham would be the first game but there was always the possibility that, as I’ve said before, his tolerance levels could be better and he may be able to play.
“But it wasn’t the case, it didn’t heal as quick as we would have wanted and unfortunately it went to plan.
“I’m always putting pressure on the medical staff, especially the doctor, and it was his plan, but he was right on this occasion, as he usually is.
“But we all wanted him back quicker than we could have got him.”
You can watch Dean’s full interview below…
“He’s joined in and his first session, I must admit, he was very, very good. It was mouth-watering to see what we’ve been missing a little bit, you sometimes forget how good he actually is until he comes back into training."
Dean Smith
on Jack Grealish's return to first-team training