Aston Villa return to Premier League action when they host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday night (7.30pm). Villa have been without captain and talisman Jack Grealish for the last five Premier League games, coming out as winners in just one of the five encounters without Grealish on the pitch.
Dean Smith said: “Jack’s been making really good progress but, unfortunately, he won’t make Newcastle. He has been ill this week so he’s been off for a couple of days as well, but we’re hopeful for the Tottenham game now, that’s for sure. He’s still in and around the training ground,” added Smith. “He takes part in the meetings. He’s got a voice and an opinion, which is good. He was one of the ones when we did our debrief after the Sheffield United game who, having watched the game, was telling the players how well we played and deserved more out of the game. He’s matured an awful lot and takes on a lot more responsibility, that’s for sure.”
Previously Dean Smith said “It’s a lower leg injury. He had some discomfort, so he went to see the doctor and they decided that he needed a period of rest until he was pain-free.”
