Express & Star

Aston Villa star Jack Grealish: I’ll play anywhere

Jack Grealish claims he’s happy to play wherever boss Dean Smith needs him following Villa’s recent tactical switch.

Published
Last updated

The skipper has been moved from midfield to a more attacking position on the left for the club’s last two Premier League games.

It was a switch which worked to great effect in Saturday’s 5-1 hammering of Norwich, where Grealish was involved in the build-up to each of Villa’s goals and netted his first in the top flight for more than four years.

Despite previously admitting to ‘hating’ playing on the left, the 24-year-old believes he is now able to influence events further up the pitch.

Grealish said: “I said the other week I hate playing on the left! But this isn’t really on the left. When the manager first pulled me and asked how I felt about playing there, I said: ‘Listen, I will play wherever’.

“Obviously I have my certain positions but I am just happy to be on the pitch. I am captain and I want to lead by example and anywhere I play will be fine. On Saturday I liked this position because I am not really playing as a left winger.

“Anwar El Ghazi is a bit different, he is more of a winger. I am in off the left, kind of like a No.10. The manager has done that to get me further up the pitch. Without giving too much away, that is what we are trying to do.”

With Grealish further forward, Conor Hourihane has been brought into a midfield which also includes John McGinn and Marvelous Nakamba.

The Republic of Ireland netted his first-ever Premier League goal at Norwich and set up another for striker Wesley.

Hourihane said: “The gaffer wanted Jack a bit higher up the pitch to do his damage. He got a very good goal on Saturday.

“If Jack comes inside, I go outside. It seems quite easy to do. It is fluid. We are all clever enough to know where is this person, or where is that person. We are moving around and it seems to be working all right.”