Jack Grealish can be much more than his Man City role in daring new England era
With his birthday looming, Manchester City’s reliable ball-keeper is set to play a more adventurous role for his country under the stewardship of interim boss Lee Carsley
Jack Grealish of England celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
I’m alright, Jack … back in an England shirt after what he described as ‘one of the worst summers’ in his life, Grealish looks like a player who will enjoy Lee Carsley’s style(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Turning 29 on Tuesday, Jack is no longer a lad. At least he should not be. Now is the time for Grealish to wring every last drop of productivity from his considerable talent.
His performance in the Aviva Stadium last Saturday was not just significant for the goal it produced – a calm, precise finish that Manchester City supporters do not see enough of – it was significant for the sight of a player who looked like he belonged in an international shirt.
In the first instance, Lee Carsley’s selection of Grealish was also significant. As this season’s club form guide is negligible, Carsley was, essentially, suggesting Grealish should not have been omitted from the 26-man squad that went to the Euros. If that was, indeed, his suggestion, then he was absolutely spot-on.
And in giving Grealish a role that had a licence for adventure, Carsley was making a gesture of faith in a player who continues to divide opinion. All things considered, Saturday in Dublin was as much fun as Grealish has had in an England shirt.
When omitting him from the European Championship squad, Gareth Southgate’s issue was that Grealish had a forgettable 2023/24 season in a City shirt, both in terms of game-time and in how he performed when Pep Guardiola did give him a chance.
It took Gareth Southgate a while to call up Jack Grealish and he never really seemed ti trust the Manchester City man, eventually cutting him from his Euros squad(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
And judging Grealish on his contribution to City’s cause could also give Carsley, assuming he gets the job permanently, serious food for thought. There is limited evidence but, judging by the way England operated against Ireland, Carsley sees Grealish performing a role for his country that is very different from the one he is given by Guardiola.
At City, Grealish is a cog in a possession machine, often keeping the ball rather than taking risks with it. Coaching staff and players know him as a ‘rest station’, in that he allows other players to take a breather by keeping possession or winning a free-kick.
It is not too often he drifts into that creative central position that Carsley encouraged him to take up on Saturday. From England’s point of view, it would be great if Guardiola did give Grealish permission to take more gambles.
