England star Jack Grealish labelled Sunday’s 3-1 win over Finland as a “perfect way to bounce back”.
Grealish was referring to the Three Lions’ recovery after their humiliating 2-1 defeat by Greece at Wembley, but his words could just as easily have been describing his own situation, and how his performances in the Nations League have been the perfect response to his Euro 2024 snub.
Team-mates were left missing Grealish’s playful presence in the England camp during the European Championship, after Gareth Southgate decided to leave the Manchester City man behind following a season spent in and out of Pep Guardiola’s team.
On his day, Grealish offers something different from England’s other creative options, and he has shown that with livewire displays since Lee Carsley became the interim manager.
Grealish found the corner nonchalantly at the Aviva Stadium last month as Carsley’s caretaker tenure began in winning style against the Republic of Ireland. Then, on Sunday, he produced another unerring finish to set England on their way to victory in Helsinki.
At 29, Grealish is older than all of the other options jostling for the same spot in the starting lineup and scores for both club and country at a much lower rate than the likes of Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham.
But his composure and ability to hold off challenges keeps England on the ball and on the attack, and his intelligent off-the-ball run made his fourth international goal possible.
Grealish is reaping the rewards of playing under Carsley, who views him as a key player and said: “Jack was outstanding [against Finland]. It was a shame he missed the first game; I thought he would have been really effective against Greece.
“Jack was really good and is an infectious character — I’m really pleased for him.”
Plenty of criticism levelled at Southgate and England during Euro 2024 centred around the perception that attacking players were being shoehorned into the team in unfamiliar positions and asked to do things they do not do for their clubs.
That was particularly said of Phil Foden, Bellingham and Palmer, while the only natural left winger in the squad, Anthony Gordon, made just one cameo appearance.
He was outstanding... he’s an infectious character and I’m really pleased for him
Grealish, by contrast, is demonstrating his own tactical versatility, proving his worth during this Nations League campaign by scoring from both the No10 position and on the left.
He is easing into the season for City, starring for England, became a father for the first time in late September, and seems to be in a good place.
“The goal came from the manager letting us play with that freedom,” he said. It remains to be seen how long Carsley is in the dugout, but Grealish has clearly been one of the biggest beneficiaries of his tenure so far.
