Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has warned starlet Jack Grealish that he will not fulfil his potential as a "top player" without improving his work rate.

The 20-year-old dazzled in Tuesday's 1-0 League Cup win over local rivals Birmingham City at Villa Park and helped set up Rudy Gestede's winner.

Though Sherwood can find no fault with the midfielder's on-the-ball contribution, the Villans manager does want to see the youngster do more when his side are out of possession.

"He did well, especially when he gets the space," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "I had a word with him in the week about trying to put some work-rate in out of possession.

"I'm not asking him to be a tiger, but I want him to get himself into a shape - it might be easier, when we win the ball back, for people to find him.

"I think he's willing to learn because he's got the potential to be a top player. He's a developing player."

Grealish scored his first goal for Villa in the 3-2 defeat at Leicester City earlier this month.