Dean Smith provides Jack Grealish injury update after Aston Villa enjoy cup win

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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says he’s ‘very, very hopeful’ Jack Grealish will be available for selection this weekend against Liverpool.

The 48-year-old was speaking in the aftermath of Villa’s Carabao Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Villans beat their Midlands rivals 2-1 to reach the quarter-final stages, with goals coming from Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady for the hosts.

Villa were good value for the win, enjoying the lion’s share of possession throughout and managing 20 shots at goal to Wolves’ seven.

Smith will be hoping to guide the five-time winners to a first final since 2012.

Villa triumphed without injured club captain Grealish, who may well have been rested anyway.

Speaking about the 24-year-old, Smith said via the club’s official YouTube: “Jack came off the coach on Saturday and said ‘I’ve never been in so much pain’, on crutches and I said ‘you’ll probably be asking me to play on Wednesday’ knowing what Jack’s like.

“He’s getting there – I’m very, very hopeful that he’ll be fit for Saturday. It’s progressed, I’m never too worried when it’s a kick and it was a dead calf. He’s had a small bleed in there. He’s progressing well to the treatment he’s had.”

TBR’s view – Grealish can hurt Liverpool

Grealish being fit to face Liverpool will be huge for Smith.

The Englishman’s creativity, vision and work rate alongside John McGinn have been a nightmare for teams this year.

Liverpool will certainly be much more uncomfortable with him named in the team