JACK GREALISH will miss Aston Villa’s clash with Liverpool — and is set to be out for the rest of April.
But the Villa captain remains confident he will be back fully fit in time for Gareth Southgate’s England Euros squad.
Grealish was expected to make his long-awaited return from a shin injury against Fulham last weekend.
The problem has ruled him out of Villa’s last seven games — as well as the Three Lions’ recent World Cup qualifiers.
Talisman Grealish, 25, felt discomfort in the shin again and has now been advised he needs another three weeks on the sidelines to fully recover.
SunSport can reveal there are no fears over Grealish’s long-term prospects of returning this season.
Dean Smith’s side will miss their key man at Anfield, then face an 11-day gap before playing Manchester City — due to the Etihad giants’ FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
Villa’s medics want Grealish to feel the full benefit of that break and he will not be risked against City.
It is also unlikely the midfielder will return for their Midlands derby with West Brom four days later, unless he convinces Smith he is fully recovered and pain-free.
Instead, Villa’s trip to face Everton at Goodison on May 1 has been pencilled in as the most likely date for his return.
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It is understood Grealish’s injury is proving far more difficult to predict than more common muscle injuries.
But he remains confident the right balance of rest and strengthening exercises will see him return to his sparkling best.
Villa face Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea among their final five fixtures and Grealish intends to be in peak condition for all of them to cement his place in the Three Lions’ summer Euros squad.
Boss Southgate is being kept updated and is understood to be happy with the amount of game time Grealish will have under his belt by the end of this season.
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