The Whites ex vice-captain, at Elland Road between 2005 and 2008, managed Villa star Grealish at Notts County earlier this decade.
Aston Villa attacker Jack Grealish is the best player outside of the Premier League, according to Leeds United ex vice-captain Shaun Derry.
The 41-year-old, who played for the Whites between 2005 and 2008, was manager at Notts County – the club where he came through the ranks – earlier this decade.
Derry took over at the Magpies during the 2013-14 campaign and, while there, he inherited the services of Grealish, who was on loan at the club from Villa.
It proved a difficult campaign for Notts as they battled relegation from League One but the Solihull ace, along with Celtic’s Callum McGregor, were crucial in remaining in the third tier, with safety secured on the final day.
“If we didn’t have Jack Grealish as a 17-year-old, Notts County would have been relegated,” Derry told talkSPORT2. “He was absolutely phenomenal for us, even as a kid.
“For me, he’s the best player outside the top flight and could definitely play for a top-six club at some point during his career.”
It is a big claim to make, and Grealish is definitely a talented player, but you wonder what the Leeds fanbase would make of their ex-player’s comments, their own talent being overlooked.
Particularly when you consider just how good Pablo Hernandez has been – especially this season – and could legitimately stake a claim about being the best player outside the top flight.
Leeds host Villa at Elland Road in the Championship on Sunday in a game of huge importance to Marcelo Bielsa’s side as they seek to get back into the top two, though this depends on how Norwich City and Sheffield United do on Saturday.
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