Aston Villa defender Kortney Hause has heaped praise on teammate Jack Grealish after he was declared fit again, saying he keeps the dressing room together. 

Grealish has been missing since mid-December with a shinbone injury but has been declared fit for this weekend's visit of Derby County to Villa Park.

“It’s superb news to get him back. He’s such a good player – honestly a real special talent,” Hause told the club's official website.

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"Everyone knows what he can do. He’s a true game-changer. Jack is a good character. He’s a good guy and he’s very funny too.

"He’s the glue that sticks the dressing room together."

Hause arrived at the club during the January transfer window and has gone on to feature regularly, playing the whole 90 minutes in the last three matches

Villa's disappointing season continued last weekend when they came away from fellow strugglers Stoke City with just a point following a 1-1 draw.

They now sit a significant eight points behind Bristol City who currently occupy the final spot in the play-off places.

The verdict 

It is great that Grealish is back, although this is a worrying choice of words from Hause.

It almost sounds like the rest of the squad do not get on unless Grealish is there. He may well have meant in terms of on the pitch activities although the way he spoke about him in the build-up makes it unlikely.

Work really needs to be done in the summer to ensure that there are more players to share the load.