Emery can unleash his own Grealish in “outrageous” £35m Aston Villa star

While both Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers were victorious with England over the international break when facing off against Andorra and Serbia, the Three Lions duo will now be desperate for Aston Villa to kick into gear back in Premier League action.

After all, Unai Emery’s men remain winless in the hustle and bustle of the top-flight from their opening three clashes, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace last time out souring the mood even more at Villa Park before the break started.

Emery and Co. haven’t been served up the easiest fixture up next, either, as the out-of-form side now has the tough task of trying to thwart ex-star Jack Grealish, who has hit the ground running with some style, pulling on his new Everton blue.

Why Villa will need to stop Grealish

Grealish has been instrumental to all of Everton’s early-season successes to date, having been recognised by the Premier League after claiming the Player of the Month award for August.

Minus the Toffees’ opening weekend defeat to Leeds, the three-time Premier League winner has been key to David Moyes’ collecting two wins so far, with a sublime four assists coming his way against Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There might be some real regret on Villa’s end now that they didn’t try to capture their former boy wonder on a loan deal themselves, but if they are to stand a chance at sealing a result at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – away from rueing their decisions in the transfer market – they will have to keep the skilful playmaker quiet.

This will, of course, be easier said than done, with Villa also having to shackle the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to try and pick up a positive result, with the Everton attackers noticeably thriving, while the forwards at Emery’s disposal routinely fluff their lines.

However, Villa could well spark into life if they gift this new signing a chance to impress on Merseyside, with Emery potentially stumbling upon his own Grealish by starting this exciting midfield talent.

Emery’s very own Jack Grealish

Villa’s transfer window was a largely frustrating event.

Thankfully, neither Watkins nor Rogers would desert the building, but the Villans did have to say goodbye to homegrown ace Jacob Ramsey, who has now moved on to Newcastle United, owing to PSR-related issues needing to be resolved.

The mood in the West Midlands was lifted somewhat by both Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joining the building on deadline day, with Elliott perhaps in line for a starting spot against the Toffees to be Emery’s own iteration of Grealish.

After all, it goes without saying that the versatile 22-year-old would be enthused by the prospect of making his debut against Everton, having faced off against the Toffees numerous times for Arne Slot’s Reds in some fiercely contested Merseyside Derbys.

Elliott – who could sign on a £35m deal next summer – might not be given the nod to start in his preferred central role, however, with both Youri Tielemans and John McGinn solid performers here last time out, even as Villa crashed to a 3-0 loss.

Instead, with Donyell Malen visibly struggling against the Eagles on the right wing – having only registered ten accurate passes and one successful dribble – this could be the spot handed to the England U21 regular, considering Elliott has lined up on this flank 38 times across his career to date.

Emery might well be taking direct inspiration from Moyes here, with the Scotsman placing Grealish down the left wing himself and getting insane results out of him, despite the 39-time England international often being deployed centrally as a number ten when still in the West Midlands.

With Elliott also being branded as an “outrageous” talent when collecting 35 goal contributions at Anfield by scout Jacek Kulig, it does feel as if a change of scenery could get even more out of the reserve Reds figure, particularly if he is starting week in week out, like Grealish is now experiencing.

Villa needs to get out of their slump quickly, with alterations such as bringing in their new number nine, perhaps working wonders in catching Everton off-guard on their own patch.