Steve Bruce has got the very best out of Jack Grealish at Aston Villa.
Bruce has been keen to get Grealish working harder, ever since he took charge at Villa Park.
However, the attacking midfielder is arguing that he cannot do as much running as the likes of Kevin de Bruyne or Roberto Firmino, as Villa don’t have as much possession as Manchester City or Liverpool.
“Me and the manager are always having a little joke about my fitness,” Grealish said.
“He always says something like, ‘I want you to get to 12K per match’. He is always showing me stats of Roberto Firmino at Liverpool and Kevin De Bruyne where they are.
“He feels if they can do it, why can’t I. But most of the time Man City and Liverpool have got the ball.
“There was one game this season – I think it was Burton – where I covered 12.4 and all the other games are just under. At the moment I am having a little battle with him.”
Even if Grealish isn’t running quite as far as Bruce would like, he has still become a vital player for Villa.
The youngster has established himself as Villa’s main creative influence, with Bruce getting the best out of him.
Grealish scored a vital goal for Villa in midweek, as he found the back of the net against Cardiff in brilliant fashion.
Grealish’s goal proved to be the winner, and kept Villa’s slim hopes of automatic promotion alive.
The claret and blues are next in action later this evening, when they take on Leeds United.
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