Dean Smith ready to pass Jack Grealish fit for England duty if Aston Villa skipper gets international call
Dean Smith is ready to pass Jack Grealish fit for England duty should the Villa skipper receive a call-up later this week.
Grealish has sat out the club’s last two matches with a calf injury sustained in a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City but is expected to return for Sunday’s derby with Wolves.
The 24-year-old’s excellent form prior to the injury means he is in the thoughts of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, who will announce his squad for the forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo on Thursday.
Asked if Grealish would be fit enough to accept a call-up, Villa boss Smith said: “He'll be fit for the Wolves game. I'm sure he'll be back training.
“It's a dead calf and after training last Friday it was probably just a day too soon. He's available for (England) selection that's for sure.”
Grealish missed last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Liverpool after failing a late fitness test.
Smith explained: “He trained on Friday and was fine, he was due to start but he felt it tightened up on Saturday morning.
“He went for a run on the pitch and felt he wasn't 100 per cent. I said we needed to make sure he was 100 per cent because they (Liverpool) are a top team. He held his hands up and said: 'I’m not.'”
Villa performed impressively in the absence of their captain, leading for much of the match before late goals from Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane snatched victory for the Reds.
Smith felt the performance demonstrated the strength of his squad.
“It was very encouraging but I know we have a squad of players who are capable of stepping in if Jack comes out, if John McGinn comes out, or if Tyrone Mings comes out,” he said. “We're happy with what we've got.”
