Jack Grealish has returned to first-team training at Aston Villa after being dropped on disciplinary grounds, manager Remi Garde revealed on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old playmaker was forced to train with Villa's under-21 squad after being pictured in a nightclub after last month's 4-0 defeat at Everton, but Garde has now ended his period of exile.

"Jack is back with the group now," Garde told in-house television station AVTV. "I am pleased to have him back because he's an important player for the group.

"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 previously described Grealish's behaviour as "not of the professional standard that I expect from my players".

Grealish has become recurring fodder for Britain's tabloid newspapers since bursting onto the scene with Villa last season.

He was pictured lying on his back in the street, apparently asleep, following a night out on the Spanish island of Tenerife and has also been caught inhaling nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas.

Villa have drawn two and lost two in the Premier League since Garde's appointment as the successor to Tim Sherwood, leaving them seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.