Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has vowed to investigate how news of Jack Grealish’s injury was leaked on social media.
The skipper missed Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester with a shin problem, but rumours he was out surfaced at least 24 hours before the game.
Without Grealish, Villa saw James Maddison and Harvey Barnes strike in the first half to lift the Foxes up to second in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle later in the day.
Bertrand Traore pulled a goal back to ensure Leicester had to work for the points after outclassing Villa before the break. But Smith was unhappy that news of their star player’s absence had emerged online.
He said: “I was made aware on social media there were rumours he was not going to play. If that is coming out of our training ground I will find out where it is coming from and reprimand whoever it is coming from.
“It certainly does (give the opposition a leg up). It is something I would not be happy with.
“It’s not going to be a long-term injury, but I’m guided by the medical staff and Jack himself. I don’t put the loss down to Jack not being in the team.
“I felt their big players turned up and ours didn’t in the first half. Jack is going to be a loss because he’s an exceptional player, but we still have a good enough team to beat Leicester.
“It took some harsh words at half-time to lift us. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing in League Two or the Premier League, you have to earn the right to play.”
PA
