STEVE BRUCE saw Jack Grealish’s coming of age as a footballer.
And he believes he is seeing the 30-year-old’s rebirth under David Moyes at Everton.
Grealish was yesterday named Premier League player of the month for picking up four assists in just two starts with the Toffees.
Former Aston Villa boss Bruce was the first to truly profit from the skills of a man who went on to command a £100million fee when he swapped his boyhood club for Manchester City in 2021.
And Blackpool head coach Bruce, 64, has revealed the key turning point in the England playmaker’s career.
It all could have turned out very differently for a man who clearly had great ability but had not yet established his credentials.
Bruce, who managed Villa for two seasons from the autumn of 2016, said: “We all know Jack’s a fabulous footballer.
“He’s got the ability to get you out of your seat. He always had that.
“And you can’t coach that. You can manage it — but it looked so effortless to him. It isn’t, by the way. The trick is making it look like that.
“What people didn’t see were the hours he spent behind closed doors working on himself — and his fitness.
“The turning point in Jack’s whole career was after he suffered a bad injury during pre-season training. He ruptured his kidney in a game against Watford.
“It was a bad one. There was internal bleeding and he ended up in intensive care.
“I don’t know if you could say it was touch and go for him — but clearly it was very serious.
“When he recovered, he needed to do his rehabilitation. But the club was skint. We didn’t have anyone we could dedicate specifically to Jack.
“So we grabbed one of his mates — a lad called Oli Stevenson — out of the academy who was doing some sports science work.
“Oli didn’t make it at Villa, he just fell short as a player, but we asked him to take care of Jack.
“Jack returned from hospital and that was the last I saw of him for a while because he was doing his rehab work. And then . . . wow.
“When he was nearing full fitness and returned to the group, his body shape was totally transformed.
“He went into his rehab as a boy and he returned a man — ready for the demands of senior first-team football. After that, his form was sensational.”
SEEING RED
Seven years on, Bruce has not forgotten a Ryan Fredericks’ challenge right in front of him in Villa’s 1-0 Championship play-off final defeat, which went unpunished by ref Anthony Taylor.
Bruce said: “He was stamped on after about 20 minutes. I’m still angry about that.
“We had to chase the game because we fell one goal behind. In the second-half, Jack absolutely ran the show.
“Everyone saw that day what he might become. But none of it would have happened without his mate Oli — and the work Jack put in. He returned to us transformed as a player.”
Bruce has watched on with obvious interest as the potential nurtured by him and others, such as his predecessor Tim Sherwood and successor Dean Smith, fulfilled its potential before falling out of favour at Manchester City.
Jack lights up a dressing-room whenever he’s in it
Steve Bruce
He added: “When I heard he might be going out on loan, I wondered about Everton.
“I did think a project like Jack would be right up Moyesy’s street. He will let him discover his joy in the game again. And I love seeing him play with a smile on his face.
“You know, when I had Jack at Villa, he was young. He was still discovering what he might be as a footballer.
“But he lights up a dressing-room whenever he’s in it. I would think he’s older now, wiser.
“But that genuine love of the game will come back. With the new stadium and 50,000 Evertonians willing him on, I’m sure of it.
“I’d put good money on David Moyes and Everton getting fantastic value out of him.
“If he stays fit, it will be one of the best bits of business they have done.”
So, among everyone he’s managed and played with, where does Grealish rank?
Bruce added: “I played with Eric Cantona at Manchester United and I managed Christophe Dugarry at Birmingham City. He was the best I managed. But Jack would be in that first XI of players I’ve managed, without a doubt.”
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