Jack Grealish ‘hippy crack’ storm to see Aston Villa wonderkid hauled in front of boss Roberto Di Matteo
Midfield starlet set to be fined and told by Di Matteo that he must improve his behaviour
JACK GREALISH will be hauled in front of Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo on Thursday to discover his fate after the 21-year-old was implicated in yet another ‘hippy-crack’ storm.
However SunSport understands Di Matteo is unlikely to throw the book at his maverick midfielder and will instead hit him with a hefty fine and warn him to be more careful of the company he keeps in future.
The Aston Villa boss would have been within his rights to impose a maximum fine of two weeks wages on Grealish – around £40,000 – after he was present at a rowdy party in a Birmingham hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.
However it’s more likely the England Under-21 international will escape with less than half that amount if he convinces Matteo he was not personally involved in any wrong-doing – and merely compromised himself by staying at the party once things got out of hand.
It is alleged hotel guests complained and a row broke out after Grealish and his friends took part in a wild and noisy party in a room containing balloons containing nitrous oxide, commonly known as ‘hippy crack.’
It is the third time Grealish has been caught up in controversy over the legal high, after The Sun first published pictures of him apparently inhaling hippy-crack from a balloon in April 2015.
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What is 'laughing gas'?
NITROUS oxide is a legal drug used to numb pain, especially during dental work.
But when it is used recreationally it can make people feel euphoric and relaxed.
However, abusing the cas can be fatal as a lethal lack of oxygen can occur.
Former Villa manager Tim Sherwood warned Grealish about his behaviour then. However his successor, Remi Garde, banished Grealish from his first team and ordered him to train with the Under-21’s after his wayward midfielder was seen partying in a Manchester nightclub, hours after being hauled off during a 4-0 thrashing at Everton.
Again, nitrous oxide balloons were present, although it was accepted Grealish had not been involved, even though his mates appeared to be inhaling from hippy-crack-filled balloons.
Garde did not fine Grealish on that occasion but did exclude him from first team duties.
This season the midfielder appeared to have calmed down and has played in every game for Di Matteo after getting himself fit over the summer, when he took a personal trainer on holiday with him and worked out every day in Dubai.
He was rewarded with a new deal worth around £3million over the next four years and seemed to be his act together, chipping in with two goals for Di Matteo’s team this season.
The Italian believed he was getting a good response from Grealish and will be frustrated by the youngster’s lack of common-sense and professionalism.
However it is understood he has heard the player’s version of events and it is unlikely he will ditch him from his first team squad or slap the maximum fine on him.
Legally, Villa cannot order Grealish to cut his ties with his friends, who appear hell-bent on landing him in bother – nor will Villa Chief Executive Keith Wyness and owner Tony Xia get involved over this latest scrape, preferring to let Di Matteo dish out discipline.
That does not mean Grealish will be in for an easy ride for it today when he will face the music in Di Matteo’s office later today.
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