Ole Gunnar Solskjaer concedes Manchester United will have to 'look out for' Jack Grealish against a renascent Aston Villa.
The MEN reported earlier this year United attempted to put the framework in place for a potential £65million deal for Grealish, 25, but the pandemic and Villa's Premier League survival scuppered any chance of a move.
The £80m-rated Grealish signed a new five-year contract with his boyhood club in the summer and attained his first England cap against Denmark in September.
Villa arrive at United on New Year's Day in fifth after a five-game unbeaten run and claimed the scalps of Liverpool, Arsenal, Leciester and Wolves this season before they drew with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
"He’s a player for Aston Villa and England who has only improved," Solskjaer said of Grealish. "I don’t want to say too much about other teams’ players but, of course, he’s a player we know we have to look for.
"The goal he scored last season was a brilliant goal and we’ve faced him enough times to know it’s going to be a difficult game.
"They (Villa) have been brilliant. I have to say Dean Smith has done a fantastic job. We played them pre-season and they beat us then in the one game we had before the league. We know all about how tough this is going to be.
"They’ve got individual players that are physically strong, defensively they have been one of the better teams in the league, and when you beat Liverpool 7-2 it’s not just defending. It’s counter-attack and quality players. That is maybe the game everyone will remember from this season."
Solskjaer confirmed Alex Telles' half-time withdrawal against Wolves was tactical, so Victor Lindelof could be the only absentee from the United squad again.
