Tender of age, slender of build yet the shoulders of Jack Grealish need to be broad enough to carry the weight of a club’s expectations.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce wants to construct his side round the fit-again 22-year-old as he looks at ways to pierce the gloom.
Grealish started for the first time this season after rupturing a kidney in the summer and was, according to Bruce, the best player on the pitch.
Derby boss Gary Rowett also singled out the mercurial midfielder as the player who caused his team the biggest threat.