‘Worst thing’: Harry Redknapp slams international boss for treatment of Aston Villa player

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Former Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp spoke on OTB Sports’ Cadbury FC roadshow about Aston Villa star Jack Grealish.

The 24-year-old has been a delight to watch since the Villans’ promotion last season. Grealish played a big part in helping his side stay up, and he has started this campaign brilliantly as well.

The Villa skipper has done everything he possibly could to impress, but chances with the England national team have been hard to come by. Grealish was handed a start by Gareth Southgate last month and, despite a sensational performance, he was dropped for the next game.

Redknapp has had his say about Southgate’s treatment of Grealish. The former Tottenham boss believes that that Villa star deserves to be a regular for the Three Lions, but he feels the England manager just isn’t ‘a big Grealish fan’.

Redknapp: Southgate doesn’t fancy Grealish

He said: “I don’t think that Gareth fancies Grealish. It is his opinion and it is a game of opinions. I think that the worst thing to happen to Gareth, possibly, was Grealish coming here, I think he has had Grealish thrown at him, thrown at him, thrown at him.

“I don’t think he is a big Grealish fan. He played him the other week against Wales, got man-of-the-match, and played ever so well. I think that Gareth would have been quite happy if he had had a nightmare and then – bosh, that’s the end of Grealish.

“That is the feeling that I get – I don’t think that he is for Gareth. The lad [Dean] Smith there has done well, and made him captain, made him feel important, and he runs the games for Villa. He is a special talent that can do things that other people can’t do. I am a big fan of his, personally. I love people that can play – and he can play.”

Grealish is undoubtedly one of England’s best players. The Aston Villa man can pick a pass, drive into the opposition half and has the ability to find the back of the net as well. Not many players can do that, and it really is strange to see Southgate ignore him.

The European Championships are scheduled for this summer and Grealish, like every other English player, will be hoping to get into the team. The Villa skipper should continue performing as well as he has for his club. If he does, Southgate will be left with little choice but to select him in his squad.