Aston Villa prepare to host Birmingham City on Sunday lunchtime in a Midlands derby which promises to be a high-intensity clash full of incident and talking points.
The rivalry between Villa and Birmingham City is one which consistently evokes passionate performances from both sets of players. That passion is known for spilling over into nastiness, with a willingness to win often prevailing over technical quality and a well-thought out gameplan.
However, there is no doubt that players with flair, skill and an eye for a killer pass could make all the difference in the second-city derby, and two players who match that description are Jack Grealish and Jota.
Both players possess the potential to provide a moment of magic to unlock a tightly contested affair, so let’s compare the two talented playmakers.
Jack Grealish
Grealish has promised to grow into a fantastic player ever since he broke onto the scene as a teenager, but his career is yet to take off.
Rumours that a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur was set to take place during the summer window suggested that he was on the cusp of a return to the Premier League, but it seems that Daniel Levy was unconvinced by his performances last season.
A return of just one goal and two assists from seventeen Championship appearances is hardly the return you would expect from a player of his quality, and it’s about time his promise translated into a consistent end product.
With the tight ball control, incisive vision and star quality to open up Birmingham’s defence on Sunday, Grealish could be the man to send Villa Park into raptures.
TT grade: B+
Jota
By contrast, Jota has also only managed to muster up one goal, although he boasts a better return in terms of assists with five.
Jota is a creative talent who likes to drift infield from out wide to influence proceedings, and his quality in this regard will make him a difficult player for Neil Taylor to nullify at Villa Park.
When placed in the context of the overall quality of Birmingham’s squad it’s clear that Jota is a fine attacking outlet, but he is lacking that extra layer of quality to thrive in the Premier League.
TT Grade: B
The Verdict:
Grealish and Jota are two standout talents who are set to grace Villa Park on Sunday, and both will be giving their opponents cause for concern as the clubs prepare their respective strategies to deal with them.
But in terms of long-term potential and eventually making the step up to the Premier League, Grealish is the player with more in his locker and, it would be no surprise to see him return to the top-flight next season, regardless of whether Villa clinch promotion under Dean Smith.
