Jack Grealish is desperate to end his goal duck since the re-start to fire Aston Villa to safety.
The Manchester United transfer target produced his best performance since the season resumed in Villa’s vital 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
It was the 19th-placed club’s first Premier League win in 11 games stretching back to January.
Dean Smith’s strugglers are four points from safety but have a glimmer of hope ahead of Thursday’s trip to Everton.
Egyptian winger Trezeguet scored both goals against Palace but skipper Grealish’s display was arguably more encouraging.
The £70million-rated attacking ace had been noticeably lacklustre in the re-start after notching seven goals and six assists before the shutdown.
(Image: REUTERS)
Defenders Kortney Hause and Ahmed Elmohamady were previously the only Villa players to score since the resumption.
But now though Grealish looks back to near his talismanic best after a display which included two shots on target and three chances created.
Plus he won back possession nine times – his best figures since the re-start.
The Premier League’s most fouled player was also brought down for the free-kick which led to Trezeguet’s opener.
Grealish, who saw VAR overturn a penalty decision on him against the Londoners, said: “We knew how big Palace was. We couldn’t have taken anything less than three points. We needed one of the attackers to score.
“Since we’ve come back, we’ve only scored two goals in six games, and both of them have been from defenders.
“It was about time one of the attackers got on the scoresheet.”
Villa impressed against Palace going back to basics, including keeper Pepe Reina who kept his 135th clean sheet in the Premier League.
After Everton this week , Villa host Arsenal on Tuesday and then visit fellow strugglers West Ham on the final day.
Egyptian right-back Ahmed Elmohamady is hoping his compatriot Trezeguet can produce more fireworks.
Elmohamady said: “The last three games are going to be massive and we have to win the three.
“I wish Trezeguet luck because he is going to play a big part for us to stay in the Premier League.
“Goals always give confidence, it allows him to have more freedom and hopefully in the next three games he will score another four or five goals.”
Villa have been staying at a local hotel to bolster team morale after coronavirus restrictions were eased.
Elmohamady added: “We are always together in the hotel before and after the game which allows us to be more together.
“It is good for the team and the spirit to keep us together, that is what we need in the next few games.
“Hopefully we can get the wins to keep us in the Premier League.”
