Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce aiming to get the best out of Jack Grealish
Steve Bruce has admitted Villa must find the best way to utilise Jack Grealish - as the attacker was hailed as the most talented player at the club.
Defender James Chester heaped praise on Grealish after he provided a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing 2-0 defeat at Derby County last weekend.
The 21-year-old was making his first Championship start in eight months, having missed the opening weeks of the season with a serious kidney injury.
Chester believes Grealish’s return will give Villa a huge boost.
He said: “In my opinion Jack is the most talented player we’ve got at the club.
“It is great to see him back and he certainly provides another string to our bow. He and Josh Onomah are the only two players who can pick the ball up between the lines and create problems. We saw that from Jack on Saturday.”
Bruce was also impressed by Grealish’s performance, though the boss admitted he is still searching for a system which can draw the best from the England under-21 international.
“We have to find a system or a position which suits him, where we play him,” said Bruce.
“He has reminded us the last couple of weeks what a good player he is. I thought he played very well.
“If he had the end product, then it would have been a scintillating show from him but I thought he was very good.
“He has been out injured and we have only had him back (in training) for a month. It is up to me and the staff to find a system for him.
“But certainly, I was encouraged by the way he played on Saturday. I thought he was excellent.”
Villa outcast Ross McCormack is meanwhile waiting to hear whether he will require surgery on a knee injury.
McCormack, currently on loan with Melbourne City, could face up to two months out.
It was initially feared the 31-year-old’s injury was more serious but scans conducted over the weekend revealed no ligament damage.
