England fans will be desperate to see Jack Grealish excel in an England shirt after another impressive performance for Aston Villa.
Jack Grealish Needs to Replicate Bright Domestic Start in an England Shirt
Grealish Must Step up Onto International Stage
England fans will certainly want Jack Grealish to bring his domestic form to the international stage. The winger is one of the most talked-about players in domestic football at the moment. But, his form in the Premier League now needs to be replicated in an England shirt. Many believe he is not good enough for the international stage, whilst others see the Aston Villa star as the kind of player the country needs.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a productive return to the Premier League last time out, returning eight goals and six assists during the course of the season. However, after four goals and five assists in seven outings already this season, he is starting to become one of the Premier League’s brightest stars.
The Birmingham-born winger excelled once again in Villa’s latest 3-0 victory at Arsenal. He proved to be a constant threat down the left-hand side, grabbing another assist and was controversially robbed off a second.
Getting the Numbers to Back-up His Brilliance
Grealish has performed at a very high level for a number of years; he has attracted the attention of some of the biggest names in world football, but nothing has ever materialised. Partly, this is because of the expectations that an extortionate price-tag brings. But it is also because he has not yet produced the numbers that the top European clubs are looking for.
Nine direct goal contributions in seven games for Grealish is an excellent sign of progress; the numbers are starting to back his stand out performances on the pitch.
The wide-man is also in excellent company when it comes to goal contributions. Only Son Heung-Min (10) and Harry Kane (15) have been involved in more, but Grealish will be looking to close the gap with Villa’s game in hand.
Deployment as a Winger Has Worked Wonders
Previous managers have flirted with the idea of using the 25-year-old as a winger, but Dean Smith is the first coach to consistently deploy him out on the left flank. His ability to commit defenders, coupled with his final third play makes Grealish a nightmare for right-backs to deal with. He is a player who will not force anything and will wait for the picture to open up, before making any decisions. The forward-thinking nature of left-back Matt Targett means he will often over-lap and allow Grealish to cut in onto his favoured right-boot.
Grealish’s numbers have also improved since he has been operating on the left wing. From the left flank, he averages 0.41 goal contributions per game, compared to 0.34, when playing more central.
Next Big Step for Jack Grealish Is England
As a young English player who is performing well in the Premier League, there is an automatic expectation that they should be carrying the country. And perceptions around Grealish and his involvement in the England squad is no different. A high number of England fans were crying out for his inclusion during England’s defeat to Denmark in October. This led Roy Keane to question England fans who were treating him ‘as if he was the messiah’.
Grealish now has another chance with his national side and will be hoping to add to his two England caps over the forthcoming international break.
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