England Call for Grealish? Everton Borrowed Star Providing Tuchel a Headache

Jack Grealish 'has helped us an awful lot' - David Moyes

Match official the official had barely blown the full-time whistle to seal Everton's dramatic late win over the Eagles when the Merseyside outfit changed the bio on their social media.

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

It is almost a year since the attacking midfielder last sported a Three Lions shirt in a three-one Nations League win over Finland in the Finnish capital under interim manager Lee Carsley.

And it will be some time before the veteran player gets the chance to represent his country again after being omitted from the England boss's latest squad for a exhibition match against Wales next Thursday, followed by a qualifying match in Latvia on 14 October.

However, one aspect remains crystal clear: Grealish is doing everything he can to play his way into Tuchel's plans for the upcoming World Cup.

After providing four assists in his initial half-dozen Premier League appearances for Everton, Grealish netted the late winner to seal his team's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved Beto from point-blank range.

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

"Can you believe this?" said the star, speaking to broadcasters after the game.

"The last games we've played here we've been tied 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 didn't score. I said it against the Hammers and I couldn't convert.

"This time, I actually said the same thing again and I scored. I sprinted towards where my parents were, so it was special."

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'England omission not a big deal'

Sunday's game was the midfielder's last for a few weeks - having only recently to string together six successive league starts for the initial occasion in almost 30 months.

He is not allowed to face his owning team City when his loan side resume play after the fixture pause on October 18.

It's 249 days before the kickoff of the World Cup. Is Grealish likely to be included on the England plane?

"You know what?" he told the radio station after the Palace game, "it's not as deep as everyone says."

"At the end of the day, you aspire to play for the national team but others are performing strongly in my role. I'm doing well also, but the people selected last month did really well in the two games so I accept that with me.

"The coach makes the choices and I fully respect that."

He added: "I'm focused on playing for this club because that's who showed faith in me and believed in me, so I'm thoroughly loving it here."

However, former England striker the legendary forward told the media that Grealish's form for Everton will be creating Tuchel a "headache".

"All Jack can do is keep doing what he is achieving, clearly scoring a winner today," said the pundit, who netted over fifty strikes in 120 appearances for the national team.

"I'm sure 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 posing the national coach a dilemma."

'In the right place'

The midfielder in play for Everton

The attacker featured in several top division games last season - he's started six since joining Everton in August.

Tuchel maintains the door remains open for Grealish, who has 39 caps and four goals for his country, in terms of the World Cup next summer.

"There's invariably a route back into the squad," the national team coach said on Friday.

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

During his several league games since joining on a temporary deal from Manchester City, he has played significant game time, had multiple contributions, set up numerous opportunities and had 10 shots.

"Jack's done great again," remarked manager David Moyes after his side's initial victory since 30 August.

"I have been urging him to get goals. He is always in the right place.

"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was incredible and the forward should have scored. But Jack is positioned well to score the goal."

The manager revealed the player had missed training during the week because of a slight issue, noting: "He has had to miss the occasional session of training but he is doing a many good things."

Grealish was not the sole individual excluded from the manager's England squad who managed to score this round of fixtures.

Marcus Rashford scored once more for the Spanish giants - although they were defeated 4-1 at their opponents - while Mason Mount scored in Manchester United 2-0 win over Sunderland on the weekend.

Jason Brown
Jason Brown

A passionate photographer and visual artist with over a decade of experience in capturing moments that tell compelling stories.