Jack Grealish has helped Villa “click” and will soon find himself in the England squad, according to Lee Hendrie.
Ex-midfielder Hendrie, 42, played for Villa from 1994–2007 and won one England cap.
He reckons current skipper and midfielder Grealish has been pivotal to the promoted club's fine form with seven points from nine games.
Uncapped Grealish, 24, impressed with an assist for the winner after equalising against Brighton , in front of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
Hendrie believes Grealish's maturity and improvements defensively could be rewarded with an England call-up next month to face Montenegro and Kosovo.
Hendrie said: “Given the step up from the Championship to the Premier League, he has to be at his best if he wants to get into that England side.
“But I feel that the penny has dropped at Villa and Jack is going to find himself in that England squad pretty soon.
“The way Villa are setting up, they are having to get results and Jack is having to do the dirty side of the game.
“Last season he was playing higher up the pitch to effect games in the Championship.
“He is having to play a different role in this Villa side at the moment and he is doing it so well.
“He is a strong kid, a fit lad, he is quick.
“This season he is having to blend his game forwards and backwards. But it is all starting to click at Villa.
“They have hit a bit of form and at the weekend Jack was influential.”
