After an absolutely dismal campaign for the Villains last term, it must have been heartbreaking for young Jack Grealish.

Since the club reformed in 1993, Villa were yet to be relegated to the second tier of English football, despite coming agonisingly close to the drop in the 14/15 campaign.

With Grealish featuring in 16 games last season, that ALL ended up in defeat, the talented 20-year-old was on the back of some persistent abuse from the media last campaign.

Their views, however, only differentiate with the ability the young winger has.

After returning back from being on loan at Notts County in 2014, Grealish made several appearances in the Villa starting 11, putting consistently good performances in week in week out, in a Villa team that avoided the drop and reached the FA Cup final under Tim Sherwood in the 2014/15 campaign.

Having started out at Villa at the age of 6, Grealish has made 34 appearances for the West Midlands club, however failed to make an impact last year, due to the winger never really getting a look-in with Rémi Garde in charge, right up until the Villains’ fate was already sealed.

The winger has been subject to many rumours saying that he will be moving on elsewhere, with many Premier League teams reportedly interested.

However here, Football League World writer George Harbey identifies THREE reasons why Grealish must stay at Aston Villa, instead of plying his trade elsewhere.

 

His love for the club

Jack Grealish

Grealish inherits a trait that Villa players from last campaign never had, passion and desire for the club.

You only had to look at the joy etched on the young man's face when Villa beat ferocious local rivals Birmingham City in the Capital One Cup last campaign, 1-0.

One would imagine that gaining promotion with Villa the first time of asking would be the proudest and greatest achievement of Grealish's career when the winger hangs up his boots one day.

Much more so than a midtable finish in the Premier League with Stoke City, for instance, who were one of the many elite clubs interested in the 20-year-old's signature.

This spirit alone portrayed by Grealish would probably culminate for more than half of Villa's squad last term.

Potential

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The winger's brightest spell came when under Tim Sherwood, in a squad that consisted of the likes of Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph, who now find themselves at Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.

Last season, the Villa Park faithful never really saw the form that he displayed in the season before, partly due to injuries and falling down Garde's pecking order for whatever reasons.

The player has time on his side, however, and after just breaking into the England under-21 squad, where he has been influential for them ever since being called up, there is a lot of time for Grealish to fulfil his ambitions of taking Villa back to the glory days, and progress from there on in.

Roberto di Matteo

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As eluded before with Tim Sherwood, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss was keen to let Grealish go out there and play his game, roam freely, and not having to worry about defensive responsibilities as much as creating chances down the other end of the pitch.

Grealish thrived in this environment, and under Di Matteo I for one cannot seeing it being much different.

Di Matteo lets his flair players play, without having to worry about helping down the other end.

With his ability to ghost past players, and have a calming influence on the ball, Grealish will be instrumental when Villa go forward, in the game, and when progressing up the league table.

So...what do you think Villa fans? Should Grealish stay or go? How good can the youngster be in his career? Let us know in the comments below!