BIRMINGHAM-Irish teenager Jack Grealish was praised for his performance last night by Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert, despite the team’s 3-1 away defeat to Chesterfield.
Grealish offered a youthful Villa side the chance to get back into the game early in the second-half with a goal in the 51st minute, but the visitors were unable to equalise and suffered the first defeat of their pre-season campaign.
“He’s done really well, and he did really well on the tour,” Lambert said.
“(Last night) gave me a chance to see some of the young ones that you don’t get to see as much.
“Some of them did well but some of them found it tough and it shows how far they have got to go.
“Jack has more than held his own and he did well in this game.”
Grealish made his debut for Villa when he came on in the 87th minute in a 4-0 defeat against champions Manchester City in May.
Lambert added that he believes the young midfielder is now in a good position to try and establish himself as a regular in the first team.
“What I am looking for is for Jack to give me problems (in terms of team selection).
“I want this kid to go and do something. He’s never ever disgraced himself, not in America, not tonight.
“He can handle it and he is enjoying his football.
“He’s still a young kid learning the ropes and he’s got a lot of big players in front of him but you’ve got to try and get into that group.
“He’s done his chances no harm at all.”
The 18-year-old has represented Ireland since the age of 14, previously refusing the opportunity to represent England at underage level although he was born in the country.
His performance last night was watched closely by Roy Keane - recently named as Lambert's assistant - who is tracking the progress of the teenager on behalf of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill.
