Dean Smith fuming at Grealish leak before Leicester and warns of consequences
Angry Dean Smith will launch an investigation into how news Jack Grealish was injured leaked out before the 2-1 home defeat to Leicester.
Smith said he was aware that rumours his star man would miss the game had filtered through to social media.
And the furious Aston Villa boss warned there would be consequences if the leak had come from inside the club's training ground.
Grealish is Villa's key man and even Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said he'd heard rumours 24 hours before the game but had to plan ahead as if the England star would be in the starting line-up.
Smith said: “I was made aware that there were rumours he was not going to play.
“If that is coming out of our training ground I will find out where it is coming from and reprimand whoever it is coming from.”
Asked if such news could give the opposition a leg-up, Smith replied: “It certainly does. It is something I would not be happy with and we will get to the bottom of it.”
Smith refused to confirm exactly what Grealish's problem was though it is thought to be a shin injury.
The 25-year-old missed 13 games of the club's Championship promotion campaign with a shin stress fracture.
He added: “It's not a recurrence of his old injury. It won't be long term. I certainly don't put the loss down to Jack's absence.
“I didn't feel enough of our big players turned up first half – and theirs did. I was a bit harsh with them at half-time and we were much better second half.”
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Leicester manager Rodgers said: “We were outstanding first half and then second half we had to really dig in. Villa came back at us but we stood up to it.”
James Maddison suffered a hip injury, but Rodgers said he was taken off as a precaution.
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