It’s a question Gareth Southgate will be sick of answering, but really, what does Jack Grealish have to do to get an England call-up?
Grealish, who’s also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, declared his international allegiance to England nearly five years ago but still hasn’t been asked to represent the Three Lions at senior level.
This comes despite the Aston Villa captain’s brilliant season back in the Premier League.
He scored eight goals and provided six assists in 2019/20 as he helped his club complete an unlikely escape from the top-flight’s relegation spots last season.
Southgate’s squad for England’s Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark next month certainly raised eyebrows.
No out-and-out left-backs are in it, while Harry Maguire was included before being withdrawn on the same day after being found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery following an incident while on holiday. The defender has since been granted a retrial after a successful appeal.
However, Grealish’s absence is the issue that’s been debated the most from this latest squad.
Grealish himself appeared to weigh in on the debate by ‘liking’ a social media post suggesting the England manager was wrong to leave him out while calling up uncapped Kalvin Phillips – the Leeds midfielder who has yet to make an appearance in the top-flight.
The likes of Wayne Rooney and former Villa man Lee Hendrie have suggested Grealish is unlucky not to be in the squad.
Hendrie, who used to be teammates with Southgate, believes the decision not to pick Grealish is ‘personal’.
And talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara echoed these claims, insisting Grealish, who turns 25 next month, deserved to be picked.
O’Hara said: “I thought he’d have an opportunity. I’d have put him in midfield; I would’ve started him to see if he could handle it. This is the time to see if he is good enough to play at the top level.
“I think it’s personal as well. Not in terms of he doesn’t like Grealish as a person. When you look at Grealish with the mistakes he’s made in the past, his off the pitch antics, that’s where the problems lie with Southgate.
“Southgate doesn’t trust him. He doesn’t trust him to put him in the squad and give him the highest honour of playing for England.
“Come on, he’s been one of the best players in the Premier League in a poor side. I think Grealish has been Villa’s standout performer, he’s been fantastic for them.
“It’s not about his performances, it’s that Southgate doesn’t trust him to put him in that England squad and behave himself.”
Listen to Jamie O’Hara on talkSPORT, above…
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By: Jackson
Title: ‘Gareth Southgate doesn’t trust Jack Grealish’ – Jamie O’Hara on why Aston Villa captain was left out of the England squad
Sourced From: talksport.com/football/751834/gareth-southgate-trust-jack-grealish-jamie-ohara-jack-grealish-england/
Published Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2020 15:32:26 +0000
