Gary Rowett singles out Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish as the key dangerman; labels him a ‘catalyst’

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Derby County face Aston Villa this weekend.

Derby County boss Gary Rowett has singled out Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish as the key dangerman for his side this weekend and believes he has been a catalyst for Villa’s best displays this term, dcfc.co.uk report.

The Rams travel to Villa Park this coming weekend knowing that a victory over Steve Bruce’s men will all-but assure them of a place in the top six following their midweek 3-1 win over Cardiff City.

Villa currently sit in fourth spot in the Championship and still harbour slim hopes of an automatic promotion spot, but with just two games remaining they would need both Fulham and Cardiff to drop points.

Nevertheless, the West Midlands club will be aiming for maximum points against Derby, and Rowett believes in Grealish they have a player who can make a telling difference when it really matters.

“They have some great individual players and we are going to have to be incredibly physical and make sure that we don’t allow them space,” Rowett told the club’s official website.

“In my opinion, when [Jack] Grealish plays well, Villa play well. He really has been a catalyst for their best performances.”

Grealish has been an almost ever-present for Villa over the past few months, and he comes into the clash with Derby having scored twice and grabbed a further assist in his last four Villa outings.

The 22-year-old missed most of the early parts of the campaign, making just 18 Championship starts this term, and some argue his absence is the reason why Villa haven’t made more of a fist for automatic promotion.

While Albert Adomah and Robert Snodgrass provide more goals and assists, Grealish ultimately sets the tempo for Villa and he’s a player who can provide the link between defence and attack,

Derby will have to stop him from dictating the play if they wish to get anything from their trip to Villa Park, though a defeat may not be the end of the world for the Rams if Millwall fail to beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.