Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith has heaped praise on Jack Grealish ahead of Sunday's clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
In what has been a difficult season for the Midlands outfit thus far, the club captain has been one of the standout performers across the Premier League with seven goals and five assists to his name.
Such form has seen him linked with a summer move to the likes of Manchester United as well as Spurs, and Smith thinks Grealish can be compared to a player already on the books at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"They have Dele Alli who is scoring goals," Smith said, as per the Mirror. "I remember first coming up against Dele Alli when I was manager at Walsall and he was at MK Dons.
"The ability he had at such a young age meant he went straight into a Premier League team and hit the ground running. He showed incredible potential which has continued.
"People have said he had a lean spell earlier this season but he has started scoring again and has always had that quality.
"We believe Jack Grealish has that star quality as well.
"Jack's ability is there for all to see.
"It is his first full season in the Premier League this year and he has hit the ground running too.
"He has carried the responsibility of being captain and an Aston Villa fan forward.
"He looks one hell of a player to everyone right now."
Grealish actually could have been wearing a Tottenham shirt at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon had the Lilywhites got their way in the 2018 summer transfer window.
However, a £25m deal never materialised and the 24-year-old has gone from strength to strength.
Spurs will hope the failed transfer doesn't come back to haunt them this weekend as they need a win to move to within a single point of London rivals Chelsea in the top-four race.
