Gary Neville tells Aston Villa star Jack Grealish what he must do to be a success in the Premier League

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Gary Neville has told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail, that Jack Grealish will have to improve defensively this season.

Villa were promoted last season following a remarkable end of season run which saw them reach the play-offs and win them.

Grealish was the focal point of that run by Villa and Dean Smith’s captain is expected to do big things during the 2019/20 campaign.

The Villans were handed a reality check at Tottenham on the opening day of the campaign and Neville has warned there will be a step-up for the 23-year-old.

He told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Birmingham Mail: “He’s in the Premier League now and it’s a massive step up.

“The team that he’s playing for – you look at those top six teams – he’ll be playing a lot more without the ball than maybe he was in the Championship so there are massive changes for him to come.”

Neville feels that he will feel the demands placed on him from the defensive side of things and it’s whether or not he can step up and adapt quickly.

He continued: “The demands on him from a defensive point of view, from being effective for the team without the ball are as important. You look at Manchester City now or Liverpool – and the great teams always do – they remove this idea that you can have a luxury player, that you can have somebody who only plays one in two games.

“He’s now going to a different level. He’s now in the company of these great players and it’s whether he can step up and live in that company.”

TBR Verdict – Time for Grealish to realise the hype

During Villa’s time in Championship wilderness, it seemed as though Grealish would return to the Premier League.

Fair play to the midfielder though he’s remained loyal to his boyhood club and ultimately led Villa back to the top-flight.

Now is the time for Grealish to show people what the fuss has been about for the last three seasons.

Proving a class above at Championship level is one thing, but doing it on a weekly basis in the Premier League is a completely different ball game.

With the £35,000-a-week (Spotrac) performer now established in the middle of the park, Neville is probably right to suggest he needs to show he is capable of looking good without the ball.

If he can master that and continue his brightness with the ball, he will surely be a strong player for Villa this season.