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DURING turbulent times for Villa, the Birmingham Mail decided to go in search of some claret and blue positives – and found them in the floppy-haired form of Jack Grealish.

We popped along to Meadow Lane for Notts County’s crucial League One clash against Crawley on Monday afternoon to see for ourselves the impact Grealish is having with the Magpies.

Grealish is the subject of regular scouting missions.

Half a dozen Championship clubs have checked on him ahead of another potential loan next season, while Villa’s under-21/first team coach Gordon Cowans has been several times to track his progress.

“He’s my favourite player – I hope he stays here next season!” smiled nine-year-old Notts County fan Ryan Greatbatch, nagging his dad for his phone to proudly show off his photo with Grealish.

The 18-year-old winger has become a popular figure at Meadow Lane with five goals and countless assists in 37 appearances, 31 of them starts, as a near permanent fixture in County’s first team.

While yesterday’s 1-0 win over Crawley, which edges Sean Derry’s men a little closer to League One safety, did not showcase Grealish at his free-flowing best, it highlighted the team player he has become during his season-long loan at County.

There were still the gliding runs, quick feet and subtle touches, which have propelled him to the fringes of Villa’s first-team squad and prompted a clamour from some supporters for him to follow in close pal Callum Robinson’s footsteps with a senior claret and blue debut sometime soon.

But more noticeable was the mature way Grealish is selflessly prepared to sacrifice his natural flair to perform the disciplined role Derry demands.

Even so, he played his part in the only goal of the game when a trademark burst down the left drew the foul from which Jimmy Spencer headed in Alan Sheehan’s 34th-minute free-kick.

It is not unusual for Grealish to be roughed up by League One opponents. There is a clip on You Tube of him being taken out by Stevenage’s Simon Heslop earlier this season – but be warned, it carries an x-rated certificate.

Crawley’s Mike Connolly was booked for hacking Jack down on the left wing, before team-mate Mike Jones was cautioned for fouling him on the opposite flank as he strutted his stuff before the break.

There was also a failed penalty appeal when Grealish was clipped in the area after a couple of slick step-overs took him into enemy territory, although he might have got a shot away earlier on that occasion.

Seemingly each and every time he is upended, which is with alarming regularity as lower-league defenders seek fair means or foul to stop him, the No.7, who appears to have grown in height as well as confidence in recent months, simply gets up, dusts himself down, runs his fingers through his hair and vows to take them on again.

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Although he is starting to fill out more physically, it does sometimes seem a mismatch when burly bruisers come crashing into him and one on occasion even the referee went over to help up the boyish boyhood Villa fan after another crunching tackle left him on the deck.

But he gives as good as he gets and doesn’t shirk the physical battles, usually exacting revenge with rapid spins away from his markers, or teasing runs from the touchline, often onto his favoured right foot.

Playing wide left in a regimented 4-4-2 formation, there are times when he seems isolated and his instincts are screaming at him to drift in-field more and create havoc. But while the pre-County Grealish might have done so, he now sticks to Derry’s game-plan, hugs the touchline and provides cover for his left-back.

There was one moment in the first half when an irate Magpies fan shouted “Pass it, don’t lump it” when he attempted an uncharacteristic up-and-under and another when assistant manager Greg Abbott had a word after he cheaply squandered possession, but those were the exceptions.

At times he held back when he might have joined the attack, conscious of his defensive duties and the importance of County hanging onto their first half lead.

He was otherwise savvy on and off the ball, playing it simple when needed and stretching his legs to run at opponents when time and space allowed.

Even in stoppage time at the end of the game, with County holding on for the three points which now leave them just a point adrift of safety, he took the sensible option when others his age might not have been quite so measured.

He ran the ball into the corner to run down the clock, showing close control to kick it against defenders, win throw-ins and frustrate another Villa JG, Crawley boss John Gregory.

Grealish himself is his own harshest critic, unsatisfied with his personal performance against Crawley and adamant that he should have done more, especially in the second-half.

But he admits he has grown up as a footballer at County and realises the importance of carrying out his manager’s instructions, rather than simply playing off the cuff.

“I could have done better, I think, but the main thing was that we got the win,” explained Grealish.

“Before I came here I probably would have drifted in a bit more to get involved, but the manager here knows what he wants from me and it’s important that I do that for the good of the team.

“It’s been such an important learning curve coming here and the fans, players, staff and management at the club have made me feel so welcome that I desperately want to repay them by keeping them up.”

As for the next step, while County fan Phil Greatbatch, like his son Ryan, wants Grealish to stay, the Magpies accept that the loanee is destined for bigger and better things and are grateful for his contribution.

“Jack’s been a revelation,” beams fan Phil. “He can’t be a world-beater all of the time. He shows flashes of genius, but works so hard for the team.

“We’d love to keep him, but I’m sure he’ll be playing at Villa soon if he carries on like this.”

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