Prince William gives Aston Villa ace Jack Grealish's England ambitions his royal approval

The future king was in attendance as Grealish blasted a wonder goal to see Villa past Cardiff on Tuesday night.

Villa Park’s special guest later visited the dressing room to personally congratulate the 22-year-old ace - while also challenging him to push his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans.

“He just came in after the game and spoke to me and said well done. I told him I picked a good game to pick to score a goal like that,” said Grealish.

“He did come in and speak to us all before the game and he said he wants to see me in the England team soon. So hopefully soon, I can get there.”

William, a lifelong Villa fan, watched Tuesday’s game from the Villa Park director’s box alongside former Holte End hero John Carew, his guest for the evening.

Grealish, who also gave the royal visitor his shirt after the game, is determined to become an England regular in the future, though he acknowledged this summer’s World Cup will likely come too soon.

For now, his focus is on winning promotion with Villa.

He said: “I think that (the World Cup) is too soon but you never know what can happen in the future. At the moment my only thoughts are Villa.

"I’ve never wanted something so bad as to get this club back to where it belongs.”

Villa have meanwhile announced a new naming rights partnership which will see their Bodymoor Heath training ground renamed the Recon Training Complex.

Recon are a Chinese conglomerate controlled by Villa owner, Tony Xia.

Villa chief executive Keith Wyness said: “Investment in our training ground is vital to optimising performance on the pitch.”