Jack Grealish and Lee Carsley hailed by England legend after international break

Stuart Pearce hailed Lee Carsley for getting ‘hurting’ Jack Grealish back to his best.

Manchester City ace Grealish, 29, netted the opener in England’s 3-1 Nations League win against Finland last weekend after being left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad in the summer.

The current Manchester City man was vocal in his disappointment with that decision but after an energetic all-action performance in Helsinki, looks to be relishing his role back on the international stage.

Interim head coach and Birmingham-born Carsley, who will be succeeded by Thomas Tuchel in January, brought Grealish back into the fold and has helped restore his confidence after a difficult few months.

Carsley, 50, has come under criticism for his muddled messages with the media when it came to discussing his desire to succeed Southgate on a permanent basis.

But after Tuchel’s appointment was confirmed earlier this week, former Manchester City boss Pearce insists Grealish’ return to form has been a significant positive from his temporary time in the hotseat.

“When you’ve been left out of a major tournament it’s quite hurtful,” said Pearce, speaking as an ambassador of Pitching In around their Volunteer of the Season Award.

“I understand that – and it’s happened to me in the past when I missed the 1998 World Cup.

“Lee Carsley deserves a lot of credit – last month, he brought Jack into the squad and started him.

“There’s real frustration for him but he’s answered that in the right way – his form’s been good and he looks like he’s really enjoying his work for England especially.

“He’s getting on the scoresheet for England, which is a criticism of Jack on occasion, the fact he doesn’t score enough or create night, but recently he’s looked as though he’s playing with a smile on his face.”
German Tuchel, 51, was unveiled as Gareth Southgate’s successor at Wembley earlier this week.
Pearce admits he would rather see an English boss at the wheel but is willing to get behind the Champions League-winning former Chelsea chief.

Three Lions legend Pearce immersed himself in the England junior setup during his six years managing the Under-21s between 2007 and 2013.

And he urged self-proclaimed Anglophile Tuchel, who reflects fondly on his time at Chelsea and admits he loves the English game, to follow in those enthusiastic footsteps.

“I always saw my role at Under-21 level to go to all the younger age groups below me,” added Pearce, who was speaking at Pitching In Isthmian League side Cheshunt.

“I had the opportunity to take the senior team against Holland for one game and the night before, I got in my car and watched England Under-17s play.

“I did it because I wanted to do it – it was no publicity stunt, no one knew about it apart from the players but they could turn around and say the England national manager came to watch them play.

“I hope he takes a real interest in all the age groups – and everything the FA are trying to put in place to develop the next generation of coaches.
“That is all vitally important for our figurehead of our national game.”