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Jack Grealish returns to Aston Villa training after nightclub punishment

Jack Grealish is back training with Aston Villa's first team once again, manager Remi Garde has confirmed.

Grealish, 20, had been forced to spend time with Villa's development squad after being pictured in a nightclub following the 4-0 defeat to Everton last month.

Garde hinted earlier in the week that the midfielder may be in line to return to the first-team squad ahead of Sunday's game against Arsenal, before confirming on Tuesday that his punishment is now over.

"Jack is back with the group now. I am pleased to have him back because he's an important player for the group," Garde told AVTV of Grealish, who played the full 90 minutes in the under-21s' 2-1 win over Derby on Monday.

"I am also pleased regarding how Jack trained over the past two weeks with the under-21s. Jack is back. I am happy for that -- and for the team."

Garde had called Grealish's actions "not of a professional standard" when explaining the punishment that led the midfielder to miss the subsequent 3-2 loss to Watford and 1-1 draw with Southampton.

It is not the first time Grealish's off-field behaviour has produced unwanted headlines for Villa -- he was reprimanded by the club after an image of him lying on his back in a Tenerife street spread on social media, while he was also pictured appearing to inhale nitrous oxide, otherwise known as "hippy crack," from a balloon.