Grealish set to miss Wolves clash

Aston Villa are set to be without captain Jack Grealish for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash with Wolves. Attacking midfielder Grealish has been in impressive form for Villa over recent weeks, scoring in their victories over Norwich and Brighton, while he also showcased his talents during last weekend’s 3-0 loss at Premier League champions Manchester City.
However, the former England Under-21 star, who has been touted for a senior international call-up with the Three Lions, was forced off during the final few minutes of the defeat at the Etihad Stadium after picking up a knock to his calf.
That problem is now expected to keep Grealish out of Wednesday’s clash with Wolves although Villa assistant boss Richard O’Kelly is confident the 24-year-old will be available for this weekend’s Premier League home game against leaders Liverpool. “It is one of those things. It is like anyone, you are walking round the kitchen at home and you bang your leg on the cupboard door and think: ‘That hurt a lot’,” O’Kelly told reporters. “Then within a day or two it feels OK. Everyone knows how people recover from knocks. “Jack is a robust character. His whole personality and demeanour says he will recover quicker than most people because that is the way he is. “He has these positives things running through his body, so I think he will be OK.”
Villa are bidding to make it through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup for the first time since the 2012-13 season when they enjoyed a run to the last four before famously losing 4-3 on aggregate to fourth-tier outfit Bradford.
Dean Smith’s side have already seen off Crewe and Brighton to reach the last 16 of the competition this season, scoring nine goals in the process despite playing both of those games away from home.