Jack Grealish may not play for Aston Villa again for another six months following severe kidney injury
Stricken midfielder still in hospital as Villa boss Steve Bruce rues his absence on top of key losses of Jonathan Kodjia and Mile Jedinak
JACK GREALISH may not play again this year after Steve Bruce revealed the full extent of the sickening kidney injury he suffered against Watford on Saturday.
The Aston Villa forward was still in hospital on Tuesday after suffering from bleeding to his kidney following a freak mid-air clash with former team-mate Tom Cleverley.
Now his concerned boss fears the England Under-21 star could be out for up to six months as Villa’s injury jinx continues.
For they already have key players Jonathan Kodjia and Mile Jedinak ruled out of Saturday’s Championship opener against Hull City.
“We’re obviously disappointed with the injury to Jack,” said Bruce. “He’s still in hospital and things aren’t great.
"The initial prognosis was he could be out for two-to-three months – at least – but it could be much longer.
“He's poorly at the minute. I went to see him in hospital yesterday. We hope that he has a speedy recovery, of course.
“Losing him is a blow to us. My system in pre-season was geared around Grealish. How to get the best out of him. And he came back flying, which was good to see.
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“He'd been away with England. So that's a bit of a disappointment for us but that's football."
Bruce had used Grealish in an attacking No 10 role behind lone striker Gabby Agbonlahor against Watford.
Kodjia, last season's 19-goal man, is still recovering from the broken ankle he suffered against Blackburn Rovers on the penultimate day of last season.
And midfield enforcer Jedinak is still ruled out with a groin problem. So Bruce does have his problems.
“We’ve been without Kodjia and Jedinak during pre-season so those are the things that we don’t need," he said.
"We want to come through unscathed. They haven’t been available all summer but they’re edging towards it, so the loss of Jack was disappointing.
“All of a sudden, we're without our best players of last year. Our best players, by far, were Kodjia and Jedinak by a million miles, in my opinion.
"And we're without them two, plus Jack now, so we're going to have to make sure we get off to a good start without them.
Bruce has only spent £2.5million this summer on John Terry, Ahmed Elmohamady, Chris Samba, Glenn Whelan and on-loan Manchester United goalie Sam Jonston.
But he has brought in five times that amount in sales and loaning players out.
Strict Financial Fair Play rules mean he is unable to replace Grealish until he raises more cash.
Ross McCormack, Jordan Amavi, Gary Gardner and Tommy Elphick are the likeliest to leave next.
