It has not been plain sailing for Dean Smith since his arrival at Aston Villa, with his side still well off the pace in the Championship after failing to put together a run of consistent performances.

Villa's cause has not been helped, though, by an injury to star-man Jack Grealish, who has been missing since December with a shin injury sustained in the 2-2 draw with West Brom.

So has Grealish's injury come at a real cost to Villa?

We discuss.....

Louie Chandler

"I think it probably has.

"We saw a few weeks into his reign just how good Grealish was under Smith and his injury has no doubt played a major role. It's been a detrimental blow.

"They should still have had enough in attack to beat a lot of the teams they haven't, however."

Gary Hutchinson

“No, not majorly.

“They’ll say it has, but if they’re that reliant on one player, they don’t deserve to go up.

“They’ve got resources, they’ve had big players in the side and they’re still failing.

“Jack wasn’t that impressive earlier in the season anyway.”

Jay Taylor

“They have been unbelievably mediocre since his injury.

“Far less attacking, far less impressive with the ball.

“He’s the heartbeat of the side, that much is evident with his absence.

“It’s like Villa don’t know what to do when he is not in the side, which is a concern in itself.”