England Call for Grealish? Toffees Loanee Giving England Manager a Headache

Jack Grealish 'has helped us an awful lot' - Everton Boss

Referee Michael Salisbury had barely blown the full-time whistle to confirm the Toffees' dramatic late win over Crystal Palace when the club updated the bio on their social media.

Underneath the team's iconic badge appeared a short phrase: Grealish for England.

It is almost a year since the attacking midfielder last sported a England shirt in a 3-1 international win over the Finns in Helsinki under interim manager Lee Carsley.

It will be some time before the veteran player receives the chance to play for his national team again after being left out from Thomas Tuchel's most recent squad for a exhibition match against the Welsh next Thursday, followed by a World Cup qualifier in Latvia on 14 October.

But one thing remains perfectly evident: Grealish is doing all in his power to force his way into Tuchel's plans for the upcoming World Cup.

Having delivered several key passes in his first six Premier League appearances for the Blues, the midfielder scored the late winner to seal his side's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had denied Beto from close quarters.

Recorded at the 92nd minute, it was Everton's latest home league winning goal since spring 2022 against Newcastle - deep into added time.

"Do you know what's mad?" said the star, in an interview with Sky Sports after the game.

"The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I've thought in the closing stages, 'push yourself, go and score. Think about scoring a late goal'.

"I thought it against Aston Villa, and I failed to find the net. I said it against the Hammers and I didn't score.

"This time, I really thought the same thing again and I scored. I ran to where my parents were, so it was nice."

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'Not playing for England isn't deep'

Sunday's game was Grealish's last for three weeks - having only recently to string together six successive Premier League starts for the first time in nearly two and a half years.

He is ineligible to face his parent club Manchester City when Everton resume play after the international break on October 18.

There are 249 days before the start of the global tournament. Will Grealish be included on the national team flight?

"You know what?" he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Crystal Palace game, "it's not as deep as everyone says."

"At the end of the day, you want to play for the England side but people are performing strongly in my role. I'm also performing also, but the people picked last month did really well in the two games so I accept that with me.

"The coach makes the choices and I completely understand that."

Grealish added: "My priority is playing for Everton because that's who showed faith in me and believed in me, so I'm thoroughly loving it here."

But, former England striker the legendary forward told the media that the player's performances for the Merseysiders will be creating the England boss a "headache".

"The only thing for him is keep doing what he is doing, obviously getting a goal today," commented Rooney, who netted 53 goals in more than a hundred games for England.

"I believe if he keeps doing that he will be there or thereabouts come the summer.

"If Jack plays, his talent will show, so I'm confident he'll be giving the national coach a headache."

'Johnny-on-the-spot'

Jack Grealish in play for his loan club

The attacker started several Premier League games last season - he's started half a dozen since joining Goodison Park in the summer.

The England manager insists the door remains open for the playmaker, who has 39 caps and four goals for his country, in terms of the World Cup next season.

"There is always a route back into the squad," the national team coach stated on last week.

"Jack knows that I see how influential he is for the team and that he is on his path to be the top form of himself."

In Grealish's seven league games since joining on a season-long loan from Manchester City, he has played significant game time, had multiple contributions, set up numerous opportunities and had several attempts.

"Jack's done great again," said Everton boss David Moyes after his side's first win since late August.

"I have been urging him to get goals. He is Johnny-on-the-spot.

"The winger's cross was incredible and Beto should have buried it. But Grealish is in and around to score the goal."

Moyes revealed Grealish had skipped training during the week because of a slight issue, noting: "He has had to miss the odd day of training but he is doing a lot of good things."

Grealish was not the only player left out from the manager's England squad who succeeded to find the net this weekend.

The forward scored once more for the Spanish giants - although they were beaten 4-1 at their opponents - while the midfielder got a goal in United's 2-0 win over Sunderland on the weekend.

Diana Martinez
Diana Martinez

Data scientist and AI enthusiast with a passion for making complex technologies accessible through clear, engaging writing.