If Aston Villa fail to win promotion then it seems highly likely that star man Jack Grealish will leave the club.

Very few would begrudge the 23-year-old a high-profile move as he is clearly a quality player and will be looking to make an impact for England in the years to come.

However, it's going to be a massive problem for Aston Villa.

They have won four games on the bounce since Grealish returned from injury last month, compared to two wins in 14 whilst he was out injured - highlighting his importance to the team.

Yet, Birmingham Live have revealed that Dean Smith is confident Henri Lansbury can step up and be the main man for Villa moving forward.

The former Nottingham Forest man has endured a very tough career at Villa Park since arriving, with injuries seriously halting his progress.

He has only played 30 minutes in 2019 and has made just one substitute appearance in the league all season but the manager clearly has a lot of confidence in the player.

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When you consider that Lansbury has barely featured under Smith he will be delighted that the manager thinks so highly of him and will be more determined than ever to prove him right.

Whether the boss actually believes he can step in for someone as talented as Grealish is debatable but it's about giving individuals confidence and an environment where they can thrive.

So, even though the past few years have been forgetful for Lansbury, he will be optimistic that he can still make a big impact at Aston Villa after this encouraging update.