The Aston Villa youngster still has a long way to go to achieve his potential but following Dele Alli’s lead is a good place to start.
Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish has already endured more controversies in his short career than most players encounter in a lifetime.
Although, as reported by the Birmingham Mail, the penny may finally have dropped.
The publication reports that the midfielder, one of English football’s most exciting talents when he exploded onto the scene under Tim Sherwood, has devoted his spare time to honing his talent on the Bodymoor Heath training grounds after forming a close bond with assistant manager Stephen Clemence.
“I need to vary up my game and I’m working on that, I know I need to get better,” Grealish, who was publically slammed by former boss Remi Garde for being spotted partying after a 4-0 thrashing by Everton, told the Birmingham Mail.
“I’m still young and I’m still learning. I asked Clem recently if he could help me and make me a better player.”
And, if Grealish wants to ensure his vast potential is not wasted in the second tier, he could do worse than to take inspiration from one of his closest friends.
After all, while Grealish is struggling to nail down a place in the Villa starting XI, Dele Alli is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most exciting talents on the back of a prolific run of form.
“I was speaking to him not long ago and he said at the start of last season he got told to report to Tottenham and be prepared to go out on loan,” Grealish explained.
“He went on pre-season and impressed so much that they said stay around. Within three months he was in the England team.
“He wants the ball into feet, sometimes he’ll run in behind, sometimes he’ll get the ball in the box – he’s all energy, he does everything.
“Watch me and I only really like the ball into feet. I don’t like running in behind so much.”
The first steps towards recovery are awareness and acceptance.
Grealish, a fully-fledged footballer now at 21, appears to have finally added a professional mind-set to his undoubted talent.
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