Jack Grealish looks a “bit bigger” and hasn’t got the “pace or belief” to go past players anymore, according to former Aston Villa favourite Stan Collymore.
Grealish has been a bit-part player for much of the season at Manchester City, despite their struggles, although he was recalled for the first leg of their Champions League playoff against Real Madrid before limping off with a hip injury after half an hour.
The England international missed Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Newcastle as a result but may be fit to return for tomorrow night’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Jack Grealish of @ManCity warms up during the UEFA @ChampionsLeague 2024/25 Training Session at Manchester City Football Academy in Manchester, England.
More #GettySportVideo @JackGrealish 🎥 Christopher Furlong 👉 https://t.co/VEJB7UW76n pic.twitter.com/ftl2SHs1dd
— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) February 18, 2025
Collymore has been disappointed by his performances of late and believes Grealish could be on the wane.
He told 101 Great Goals via William Hill Vegas: “Jack was taken by Manchester City to go past a full-back, get to the byline, twist and turn, put the ball across the box and someone like a [Erling] Haaland or a [Sergio] Aguero to put the ball in the back of the net.
“Jack doesn’t do that any more. There’s been lots of rubbish about how it’s been coached out of him but it hasn’t. He looks a bit bigger to me, he doesn’t look motivated to go past people anymore and he doesn’t look like he has the pace or belief to go past people.”
Collymore impressed by Rashford’s early Villa displays
Grealish and Marcus Rashford previously fought over the left-sided role in the England team and it remains to be seen how new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel views the pair when he names his first squad in March for the back-to-back World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia at Wembley.
Collymore has been impressed by Rashford’s first two displays since signing for Villa on loan although he stresses it’s too early to say he is back to his best.
Marcus Rashford’s all-action @AVFCOfficial debut! 😅
Up next are Liverpool on Wednesday… pic.twitter.com/T8uC80iRE0
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 18, 2025
He added: “The signs are quite good, there was a stat yesterday that was absurd: he’s created Villa’s most take-ons and big chances this calendar year and he’s only played 45 minutes [in the Premier League]. He’s taken on three full-backs and he’s looked sharp in doing so.
“Marcus still has the pace to go past people but does he still have the belief to do that on a consistent basis? The early signs bode well.
“A couple of times against Ipswich [on Saturday] he got the ball on the left wing, on the touchline, and went past people. If he does that he will get back to something approaching his best.
“If he goes past people and it’s tricks but no end product then he is going to struggle to realise his ambition, which is to either get a permanent move to Villa or the dream is still to go on and play for Barcelona.
“He’s started well but let’s see what the diagnosis is after 10 games. He’s technically at Villa for a short time, let’s say 15 or 16 games all being well [and] at the very least I want to see four or five assists and four or five goals. He will be judged on pure output. He’s started brightly but, that’s all it is, a bright start.”
Rashford could be in line for his first Villa start when Unai Emery’s men take on Premier League leaders Liverpool at Villa Park tonight.