Tyrone-Mings-Player

Dean Smith has joked how he's told Jack Grealish he's not a guaranteed starter for Aston Villa when he's back fighting fit. The captain watched Villa's goalless draw with Wolves from the Trinity Road Stand alongside Matty Cash as Villa claimed a point against their near-neighbours. It was the fourth game on the spin Villa have had to make do without their skipper as he continues to recover from a lower leg issue. As for Smith, he explained how he spoke to Grealish, 25, prior to kick-off against Wolves with the pair exchanging some light-hearted jibes. "He was close," Smith said, when asked if Grealish was close to being fit for Wolves. "He was running on the AlterG (anti-gravity treadmill) on Thursday and Friday. "Hopefully, we can get him on the grass this week. I saw him before the game and he said to me if he gets on the grass he's playing. But I said to him, 'I've got to pick you first!' which he also laughed at as well..." Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel With Grealish touch-and-go for Friday's trip to Newcastle, just how is Villa's squad shaping up? Against Wolves, Morgan Sanson and Bertrand Traore were taken off after picking up slight knocks while stand-in captain Tyrone Mings soldiered on after an apparent ankle injury after landing awkwardly in a duel with Fabio Silva. Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles Here's Smith's rundown on Villa's walking wounded after the Wolves draw: BERTRAND TRAORE INJURY: KNEE SMITH SAID: "Berto's OK as well. I just decided not to take the risk knowing it was three games in such a short period. When I saw him I thought it was his hamstring at first but when I got the green light from the doctor I just thought to get him off as a precaution really." TYRONE MINGS (Image: PA) INJURY: ANKLE SMITH SAID: "Tyrone's fine. He's had some ice on it now but I got the green light from the medical staff so that's why he continued." MORGAN SANSON (Image: PA) INJURY: ACHILLES/ANKLE SMITH SAID: "It was a normal football knock you get in a derby match. He'll be fine and will be back training on Monday. I thought it was a really good performance from Morgan, especially first half. "I thought he tired, which is what I expected because it was his first Premier League start. The intensity is a lot quicker than the French league. In training he's been really good and deserved his starting place today. He's showed what a good player he will be for us." ANWAR EL GHAZI INJURY: INFECTED TOE SMITH SAID: "He'll get some antibiotics into him and I’m sure he’ll be fine and train either Monday or Tuesday."