Jack Grealish racing with the time to be fit for England

The Aston Villa captain will miss Friday’s clash with Newcastle through injury

Jack Grealish faces a race against time to prove his fitness for England’s World Cup qualifiers this month after he was ruled out of Aston Villa’s clash with Newcastle on Friday – due to a leg injury.

Villa boss Dean Smith confirmed Grealish, who has missed the last four games with shin trouble, had not recovered in time for the trip to St James’ Park – and Gareth Southgate names his squad on March 17.

Villa have only one Premier League fixture, against Tottenham on March 21, before England’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino on March 25. They then travel Albania on March 28 before facing Poland at home on March 31.

Jack Grealish injury update.

The BBC have reported that Grealish could be out for as long as a month, although Smith is hopeful Villa’s talisman could be fit for the Premier League clash with Tottenham next weekend.

Smith said: ‘Jack’s been making really good progress but unfortunately he won’t make Newcastle because he has been ill this week and been off for a couple of days. But we are hopeful for the Tottenham game for sure.’
Grealish has shone for England since making his senior debut in the 0-0 draw in Denmark last September, and Southgate would be expected to hold talks with Smith before deciding whether to pick the 25-year-old.

If the Villa skipper is on track to play against Spurs, there is every chance he would be named by Southgate.

Without Grealish, Villa have taken four points from those four matches, scoring only twice.

Grealish has six goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this term and has been one of the outstanding players of the season, having a great impact in Villa´s performance this year.