Jack Grealish missed Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Bristol City on Saturday because of a sickness bug, according to a report.
The Birmingham Mail claims that Grealish was sent home from training on Friday after falling ill and whilst he was expected to return the following morning it became apparent that he wouldn’t be fit enough to feature.
As a result, defensive-minded midfielder Glenn Whelan stepped into midfield, with the versatile Conor Hourihane being pushed forward.
Despite the absence of their star man, Villa secured a much-needed victory in the race to finish in the top-six, with striker Tammy Abraham and Hourihane getting on the scoresheet.
On paper, the game was one of Villa’s toughest yet because they were facing a team in a rich vein of form and a side that was directly below them in the play-off places.
But Deam Smith’s side didn’t struggle for one moment during their game as they produced attack after attack with opposition goalkeeper Max O’Realy producing a number of vital saves.
Nonetheless, the Villa Park faithful will now be hoping that Grealish is fit enough to feature when they take on relegation-threatened Bolton on Friday.
Three more points in their next fixture will only move them a step closer to those playoff places because there are four games of the season remaining, including the Bolton clash.
