As part of their training youth players will be expected to grow vegetables

The acre of land acquired at the back of Villa Park will be used to grow vegetables for the club's chefs to then feed the players

to bringing homegrown players through the ranks by opening an allotment

Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish says he is proud to be known as a homegrown talent after it transpired his club became the first in the Premier League to own an ALLOTMENT.

The 19-year-old was posing with carrots, radishes and pumpkins on Villa's lot and was full of praise for the club with their continued efforts in encouraging younger players to make a breakthrough.

Villa have a proven pedigree of bringing through players from their academy into the first team, with Grealish just the latest of a long list to make the grade.

Aston Villa youngster Jack Grealish pictured with some of the fresh vegetables at the club's allotment

Grealish holds up some carrots at the training ground on the day Aston Villa opened their own allotment

Grealish gets down to work at the allotment based at the rear of Villa Park

Grealish has attracted interest from a number of suitors after impressing for the Midlands side

PLAYERS VILLA COULD GROW AT THEIR ALLOTMENT Christian Green Beanteke Chicharito (Little Pea) Steve Marrow Andy Carrot Yohan Cabbage Curly Kale Naughton Coach: Craig Gardner Advertisement

The club have bought an acre of land at the rear of Villa Park in order to grow vegetables for the club's chefs to then feed the players with the fresh produce.

Youngsters at the club will be given the opportunity to become chefs and - as part of their daily routines - are expected to grow vegetables.

And Grealish, who has featured on five occasions for Paul Lambert's side this season, is in full support of the new scheme.

He told the Sunday Mirror: 'I'm proud people think of me as home-grown talent. It's nice to see the club staying close to its roots with this project.'