Jack Grealish arguably produced one of his best performances for Aston Villa as they recorded a late win against Brighton on Saturday.
Tony Cascarino has questioned whether Aston Villa can return back to their European days because he thinks Jack Grealish is ‘ready’ for Champions League football.
Playmaker Grealish scored and assisted for Villa as they recorded a 2-1 win against Brighton on Saturday – Matt Targett netted a winner right at the death.
Villa made a return to the Premier League in the summer, and in years gone by, they have challenged for Europe, but they haven’t been in that position for some time now.
Former Villa and the Republic of Ireland striker Cascarino asked whether Villa could challenge the elite of this country again because he thinks Grealish is ready for that step up.
“Are Villa going to challenge the football elite in this country?” Cascarino questioned on TalkSport. “What they’ve got is a very young side, is very energetic and have someone who is now ready to play Champions League football in Jack Grealish.
“He is a player who has to be playing at the highest level and I feel he is showing he has the heart to do it.”
Grealish’s performance against Brighton was perhaps the best performance he has put in a Villa shirt, as he ran rings around Graham Potter’s team, who were reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Brighton had taken the lead through Adam Webster, as the away side well and truly dominated the game, but Mooy’s sending off – a second yellow for a foul on Grealish – resulted in the game turning.
Villa would equalise through Conor Hourihane, but that goal was chalked off by VAR before Grealish started and then finished Villa’s equalising goal on the stroke of half-time. The Villa man would then run the show in the second half and ensure his team walked away with the three points.
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