Steve Bruce makes surprise appearance amid star-studded guest list at Jack Grealish’s lavish birthday party
Steve Bruce was amongst the famous faces as Jack Grealish celebrated his 30th birthday.
The Everton loanee was joined by his former Aston Villa boss as well as several past team-mates for the bash.
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Grealish turned 30 on Wednesday, with the international break providing an opportunity to celebrate.
Thomas Tuchel left Grealish out of his England squad to face Andorra and Serbia in World Cup qualifying.
The snub came despite the playmaker's impressive start to life at Everton after joining from Manchester City.
David Moyes completed the season-long loan signing of Grealish in August with an option to make the move permanent next summer.
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He has since registered four assists in his three Premier League appearances for the Toffees.
Grealish will be hoping to continue that form at home to boyhood club Villa on Saturday.
Grealish's birthday party
Ahead of the match, though, he found time to celebrate his landmark birthday.
Former Villa defender Alan Hutton took to social media to share a snap from the party as he sent a message to Grealish.
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The Scot shared a picture of himself, Grealish, Bruce and Conor Hourihane to his Instagram.
Hutton, Grealish and Hourihane all played under Bruce at Villa Park.
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Alongside the photo, he wrote: "Best weekend. Happy 30th. Love you @jackgrealish."
Manchester United great Wayne Rooney was another who attended and claimed it 'was a good night, a really good night' on his BBC podcast.
Bruce's influence on Grealish
Grealish spent two years playing under Bruce between 2016 and 2018 during his time as Villa boss.
In that period, the England international made 66 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals and adding 11 assists.
The pair also reached the Championship play-off final at the end of the 2017/18 season before losing to Fulham at Wembley Stadium.
Prior to that defeat, Grealish revealed the impact Bruce had left on him after his response to a life-threatening injury.
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It came after he was hospitalised with internal bleeding after being kicked in the kidney in an innocuous collision during a friendly.
The contact split Grealish's kidney, with Bruce's treatment of his star man sticking with the Villa academy graduate.
Recalling his time in hospital, he told The Mirror in May 2018: "When I was in hospital, [Bruce] came to see me twice and he Facetimed me every other day to see how I was.
"You remember stuff like that and if I do end up scoring the winner, I’ll dedicate it to him."
Although Bruce was sacked by Villa the following season, he is currently back in management after spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle and West Brom.
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The 64-year-old has been in charge of League One Blackpool for a year after being appointed in September 2024.
His side currently sit 22nd in the third tier after six matches so far this season.