Jack Grealish gives Aston Villa boost for Man City after club’s Covid crisis

Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish is fit and raring to face Manchester City on Wednesday night.

Villa were plunged into a Covid-19 crisis earlier this month after 14 positive tests among their players and staff.

Attacking ace Grealish, who has five League goals and seven assists this term, wasn't one of the club's nine players to test positive.

But the football-mad England star still had to self-isolate at home for 10 days in line with Public Heath England regulations.

He kept himself fit in his home gym and watched numerous live Premier League matches, including all three on Saturday.

Villa's players were then allowed back into training on Sunday provided they tested negative from Saturday.

Grealish, 25, was ecstatic to get back to training ahead of Wednesday's game and was one of several stars to spend most of Sunday at the club's Bodymoor Heath HQ.

The star has previously admitted his obsession with the game after revealing he wasn't interested in many other sports when growing up.

He now can't wait to tackle in-form City at the Etihad after Villa's top-flight clashes with Spurs and Everton were both postponed.

Villa were unable to fulfil the fixtures due to as many as 35 first team squad, coaches and several medical staff self-isolating following the outbreak.

Their FA Cup tie at home to Liverpool on January 8 did go ahead but only after Villa fielded a youth team.

Villa boss Dean Smith reflected: “It has been a tough period but we have to worry first and foremost about the people who have tested positive and make sure they make a healthy return to the football club.

“We have had a mixture of players with or without symptoms.

“The hardest part is they all come back at different stages.”

Meanwhile, Villa are in talks to sign Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson, 26, for £15million and are willing to offload Conor Hourihane who has Championship suitors.

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