Remi Garde warns Aston Villa players to behave at Christmas

Aston Villa coach Remi Garde says his Ghanaian striker Jordan Ayew is showing the way for his teammates, insisting his tireless approach to matches for the struggling side is a flawless example for players of the club to follow. “To achieve what we need we must focus 100 per cent on the job and prepare the best way we can”.

He said: “You think I should be anxious?”

Grealish was dropped for last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Watford after being pictured in a nightclub following the bottom club’s 4-0 defeat to Everton.

Unhappy Garde, still searching for his first win, will only consider the 20-year-old for a recall to the first team next Monday if he knuckles down.

Garde added: “I know when he might return and he knows”.

Garde warned: “Of course it’s party time – but not for us and that’s it”. But he’s adamant he will not be messed about by any impromptu celebrations that could disrupt preparations for a mammoth relegation fight.’You can have Christmas with family and be prepared to play these games.

“If you speak to any European footballer, they would like to be playing Boxing Day”. Jack made a mistake and must pay the consequences for that.

“If another player does something wrong they will have the same treatment”, said Garde.

“Jack is young and will be back because when he is fully committed in his job he will be a good player”.

In September he threw in his lot with England but was unable to appear in Roy Hodgson’s side for the friendlies against Spain and France last month because his clearance had not come through.