Shaun Derry raves about Aston Villa star, calls him best player outside the top flight

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Former Notts County boss Shaun Derry has told talkSPORT 2 that Aston Villa star Jack Grealish is the best player outside the Premier League.

Derry took over at the Magpies during the 2013/14 campaign and inherited Grealish who was on loan at the club.

The Magpies were in League One at the time and 17-year-old Grealish was instrumental in keeping the club in the division. During 37 appearances at Meadow Lane, he netted five goals and contributed seven assists.

Notts secured safety on the final day of the campaign and Derry is thankful for the job that Grealish did.

He told talkSPORT 2: “If we didn’t have Jack Grealish as a 17-year-old, Notts County would have been relegated. He was absolutely phenomenal for us, even as a kid.

“For me, he’s the best player outside the top flight and could definitely play for a top-six club at some point during his career.”

TBR Verdict

Derry is clearly still fond of Grealish following his time working with the player at Notts County.

His career has gone from strength to strength and he has propelled Villa into promotion contention this season.

As a result, he could have secured himself a big-money move this summer regardless of whether he leads Villa to promotion or not.

Derry could be wide of the mark when he suggests that he could play for a top-six club. That looks a big ask. He is, however, still young but at this stage right now playing regularly for a club in European competition looks ambitious, to say the least.

Grealish looks set for big things at some point during his career. Should Villa earn promotion, his development might be best served playing regularly for them in the top flight and waiting to secure a move.