Tim Sherwood: Jack Grealish can learn from Joe Cole at Aston Villa

Tim Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert as Aston Villa manager on 14 February, 2015

Joe Cole can be a positive role model for Aston Villa team-mate Jack Grealish, according to manager Tim Sherwood.

Grealish, 19, starred in Villa's FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool last month but was also pictured in a national newspaper apparently inhaling a legal high.

Sherwood said: "I didn't read too much about Joe being on the front pages.

"He's just got to show (Jack) the lead: 'just follow me, see what I did'."

Ex-Liverpool and Lille playmaker Cole, 33, made his debut as a 17-year-old for West Ham in 1999 before going on to win 56 England caps and helping Chelsea win three Premier League titles.

Sherwood, who gave Grealish his first Premier League start in Villa's 3-3 draw with QPR on 7 April, added: "You go into that canteen most days and you'll see Joe Cole talking to Jack Grealish.

"Joe is a massive influence on him, I think. They are very, very similar. If Jack can have a career like Joe's had then he wouldn't have done too bad."