When Jack Grealish was pictured asleep on a Tenerife street earlier this summer, it was greeted with a strange kind of glee from some quarters.
'Premier League star loses the run of himself and sets himself on track of a ruined career'. That's not a real headline but considering some of the reaction it might as well have been. Having also been caught up in the 'hippy crack' witch hunt at the end of last season, Grealish has certainly seen both sides of the coin when it comes to being the next big thing.
Away from the front pages, this season is going to be key for the Aston Villa attacker. He needs to prove that all the fuss is worth it and he can only do that with his performances on the pitch.
Grealish is still only 19 so whatever image he may be building for himself can change if he wants it to and if he needs a role model in that, then he need look no further than his new captain.
Now that he's back in the Premier League, Micah Richards is ready to live up to his early hype and put his best foot forward. Richards was named as Villa's new captain by Tim Sherwood yesterday and he was soon asked about what kind of advice he has for Grealish.
When you are going literally from earning, what?, 80 quid a week at 17 and you then sign a contract for big money? What’s he on, thousands of pounds? You think you are the man, don’t you?
The former Man City defender spoke of how the money and fame really went to his head at the age of 19. He bought an Aston Martin and parked it wherever he liked just because he could. Something which Richards puts down to the folly of youth.
You’ve got a different mind-set when you are young — giddy. You know what I mean. When you are first pulling a bird, you get giddy with it. When you are young, you are enjoying your life.
That's something Grealish has to deal with and Richards has given his new teammate some advice in that respect.
You’ve got to make mistakes to learn from them. As long as everyone learns that’s the key. We are only human. You’ve got to enjoy life as well. But as long as you give 100 per cent when you are on that field I think the rest takes care of itself.
