Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish targeting Liverpool return

Grealish is set to miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie with Wolves due to the calf injury he sustained in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.

But the problem is not thought to be serious and the 24-year-old could return to action when league leaders Liverpool visit Villa Park on Saturday.

Grealish has been in excellent form and was being tipped for a possible England call-up before being forced off with the knock late on at the Etihad, later leaving the ground on crutches.

Speaking about the injury earlier in the week, Villa assistant boss Richard O’Kelly said: “It is one of those things. It is like anyone, you are walking round the kitchen at home and you bang your leg on the cupboard door and think: ‘That hurt a lot’.

“Then within a day or two it feels OK. Everyone knows how people recover from knocks.

“Jack is a robust character. His whole personality and demeanour says he will recover quicker than most people because that is the way he is.

“He has these positives things running through his body, so I think he will be OK.”