Jack Grealish admits Aston Villa's Premier League return 'felt like a friendly'

Midfielder, who has been charged with driving offences after a car crash during the coronavirus lockdown, says he found it tough playing in front of an empty stadium

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, left, battles for the ball with Chris Basham of Sheffield United as the Premier League returned to action on Wednesday, June 17. The match at Villa Park finished 0-0. AFP

Players of Aston Villa and Sheffield United take a knee ahead of the game at Villa Park. EPA

Sheffield United and Aston Villa players and staff members kneel as a statement against racism at Villa Park. AFP

Players line up as the Premier League restarted in Villa Park behind closed door. Reuters

A staff member of Aston Villa disinfects the goal net pole on Wednesday. EPA

Keinan Davis of Aston Villa is challenged by Jack Robinson of Sheffield United at Villa Park on Wednesday. Getty

Anwar El Ghazi of Aston Villa is challenged by Ollie Norwood of Sheffield United. Getty

Sheffield United players look on from the stands at Villa Park. AFP

Sheffield United's Irish defender Enda Stevens wears a jersey bearing "Black Lives Matter". AFP

Aston Villa's Keinan Davis challenges Sheffield United's Jack Robinson. Reuters

Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa battles for possession with Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United. Getty

The Premier League resumed behind closed door on Wednesday. Reuters

Aston Villa's Keinan Davis jumps for a header on Wednesday. AFP

'Black Lives Matter' writing is seen on the back of Ollie Norwood and Billy Sharp's jerseys. Getty

Aston Villa's substitute players maintain social distance. EPA

Sheffield United's John Egan takes on Aston Villa's Keinan Davis. Reuters

Oliver McBurnie and Jack Robinson of Sheffield United appeal for a goal which is later denied as Orjan Nyland of Aston Villa catches the ball at Villa Park on Wednesday. Getty

Captain Jack Grealish admitted that Aston Villa's return to Premier League action felt like a friendly.

Villa host Chelsea in their second game back on Sunday, with games being played behind-closed-doors for the rest of the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dean Smith's side restarted the Premier League on Wednesday, drawing 0-0 with Sheffield United and missing the chance to drag themselves out of the relegation zone.

They earned a point after goal line technology failed when goalkeeper Orjan Nyland carried Oliver Norwood's free-kick over the line but referee Michael Oliver's watch did not register the goal.

But Grealish, who has been charged with driving without due care and attention and failing to stop at a scene of an accident after he broke lockdown rules in March, has found adapting to an empty stadium tough.

"People said it would be different once we got out there because you would know it is on TV and there are millions watching," the 24-year-old, who has been linked with a big-money move to Manchester United, told Villa TV.

"It's weird. You do feel it is like a game behind closed doors, probably like a non-competitive game.

"You try not to think like that because it is a competitive game and you are fighting for points. But it is hard, if I am honest. All we can do now is give our all to the end of the season and try to get results

"I love playing with fans and performing in front of fans and showing what I can do."

Chelsea loanee Danny Drinkwater, who missed Wednesday's draw through injury, cannot play against his parent club, while John McGinn will be assessed as he returns from a fractured ankle.

Bjorn Engels (Achilles) is out along with long-term knee injury victims Wesley and Tom Heaton.

Keinan Davis could earn his second Premier League start after a full top-flight bow on Wednesday and manager Dean Smith feels the 22-year-old can help Villa survive.

"I thought his impact was really good but it was what I'd seen in the last four weeks of training and in the practice matches we'd had," he said.

"He's going to be a top player. He's a lad who has come through the academy and I've always said I've been a big fan of him and that the biggest problem is keeping him fit.

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Five best and five worst Villa kits

ASTON VILLA BEST 5) 1993/95 home: Playing around with Villa’s classic claret and blue home kit is a risky business (see worst kits). But the blue pin striped Asics top works well and was worn proudly by Dean Saunders, Dalian Atkinson and Co when Villa beat Manchester United in the 1995 League Cup final at Wembley to deny Alex Ferguson’s team a treble. Getty

4) 2010/11 away: Villa went for an all-black Nike effort that is taken up a notch by the smart bit of claret and blue trim down the sides. But the colour would end up matching the mood of the club as Martin O’Neill quit as manager before a ball had been kicked and his replacement, Gerard Houllier, missed the last month of the season due to health problems. Getty

3) 1999/2000 away: White away kits have been adopted successfully by Villa over the years and this number, with a claret and blue sash across the top, is a prime example. Allsport

2) 2007/08 away: Another white away top but this one with light blue pin stripes and shorts as Nike took over as kit manufacturers for the first time. A design that tips a subtle wink at the top worn when Villa stunned Bayern Munich to win the 1982 European Cup. Getty

1) 1992/93 home: A magnificent kit if ever there was one, sported here by defender Earl Barrett. Classic Villa claret with a slightly darker shade of their traditional blue, finished off with a white draw-string collar. Also the kit worn by Dalian Atkinson when he scored one of the greatest Premier League goals of all time, with a wondrous solo effort at Wimbledon. Allsport

ASTON VILLA WORST: 5) 1990/93 away: On the list for being spectacularly dull and a rare own goal from a Villa white away top. Dull patterns on the shoulder add to a laborious all-round effort from Umbro. Getty

4) 2012/13 away: Little known Italian sportswear manufacturer Macron took over kit duties and they stumbled out the blocks with this hideous luminous yellow effort. The club website would describe the new shit as “vivacious” clearly misspelling “atrocious”. At least it didn’t put off Belgian striker Christian Benteke who finished the season with an impressive 23 goals. Getty

4) 2013/14 away: Macron maintained its impressively low standards with an appalling away kit for the second season on the spin. A jarring mix of a shirt made up of blackcurrant and white quarters along with hooped socks of the same colours. “Classy” and “vibrant” the club website claimed, but they were fooling no one. And it clearly affected Benteke this time round as his goals tally dropped to just 11. Getty

2) 1999/00 home: An outrageous attack on the traditional Villa home design as stripes - YES, STRIPES! - are disgracefully introduced into the mix. Remarkably, the players kept their focus on the pitch with a sixth-place finish, which was clearly down to the vastly superior white away shirt lifting spirits. Allsport

1) 1993/95 away: A memorable effort from the world of dire football shirts. An unforgivable green and black striped deckchair/1970s wallpaper knock off. No redeeming features and a stain on the football club’s fine reputation. Allsport

"He's had a few little niggles and injuries over the last 18 months, and he needed a long period without injury. This mini pre-season has been able to give him that."

One Chelsea player Villa know all about is Tammy Abraham, with the England striker having scored 25 goals on loan at Villa to help the win promotion from the Championship last season.

The 22-year-old has scored 15 goals from 34 games back with his parent club this term and Smith said: "I don’t need to give my centre-halves any plans. They know him very well, as we all do.

"He’s gone onto Chelsea in the Premier League this season and done what I expected him to do. I’m pleased that he’s had his opportunity with Frank [Lampard] there and he’s shown everyone what a good player he is.

"Our centre-halves know from training with him every day last season how good he is and how good they will have to be to keep him quiet."