Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood 'loves and hates' Jack Grealish

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood says he 'loves and hates' teenage midfielder Jack Grealish.

Sherwood feels Grealish has learned the lessons of a controversial summer which came after an excellent first season in Villa's senior side.

The 19-year-old was a star performer at Wembley in April as he helped Villa defeat Liverpool and reach their first FA Cup final in 15 years, but shortly afterwards was photographed inhaling the legal high nitrous oxide on a night out.

Grealish was again in the news during the summer when more pictures emerged of him face down in the street while on holiday in Tenerife.

The midfielder has missed Villa's start to the season with a hamstring injury but is in contention to make his first appearance of the season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Sherwood is ready to welcome him back to the team and feels he has moved on from his moments of controversy.

"I will back him 100 per cent, he is such a talented boy," said Sherwood. "I love him to death and I hate him at the same time. I want to nurture him to fulfil his full potential.

"He did annoy me in the summer, but he annoyed himself. Hopefully the penny has dropped with him.

"Young kids make mistakes. But they come through it. He is a one-off - and he is a one-off on the pitch. He has come through it and we need to move on now."

Grealish made a goalscoring return from his injury for the under-21 team this week and is likely to go straight into the starting line-up against Palace.

Carles Gil also played in that game against Derby on Monday and he too comes into the reckoning after an ankle problem.

Villa have beaten Bournemouth and lost to Manchester United so far this season in the Premier League and Sherwood believes the return of Grealish and Gil could provide the creative spark that has been missing in his side.

I love him to death and I hate him at the same time. I want to nurture him to fulfil his full potential.

"That is what we need, we need Jack and Carles," said Sherwood.

"It is unfortunate that two of the most creative players in the side have been injured at the same time. Now they are getting back to fitness, it will change us going forward.

"I think they could play together. If anyone watched them play for the under-21s, you can see they suit each other's game. They pass the ball to each other and they enjoy each other's company.

"They are very offensive players with a good technical ability so they can take us forward."