Aston Villa are due to face Sheffield Wednesday in the first match of the new season.
Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo has told the Daily Mail that Jack Grealish cannot afford to slip up anymore.
Di Matteo is confident that Grealish has the capabilities to make a big impact in the Championship this season.
The 20-year-old is expected to play a crucial role in Villa’s starting line-up over the upcoming campaign.
However, Di Matteo admits that the youngster simply cannot make any mistakes – if he is to be a success at Villa Park.
“In Jack I see a young flower that is blossoming,” Di Matteo said. “He is a very joyful young man and we should not forget he is a young man – we all made mistake when we are young and we use that experience to develop.
“I can only judge on what I have seen and he has been tremendous. He has learned. I think he knows he can’t slip up anymore.”
There is a great amount of excitement about Grealish’s future at Villa, but the prospect has already had a turbulent career.
Grealish broke through into Villa’s line-up under Tim Sherwood, but he fell out of favour last term – with off-the-field controversies not helping his cause to get back into the team.
Grealish is predicted to be a major creative force in the Championship, though, and he looks likely to start in Di Matteo’s first match of the season, which comes against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
