da luck： Aston Villa star Jack Grealish underlined his England credentials on Monday evening with an outstanding display against Newcastle United.
da realsbet： The coveted playmaker was in inspired form after returning to the side, providing a level of creativity that has been distinctly absent from Villa’s play during his absence.
It was the type of performance that prompted plenty of discussion regarding his England credentials, with Euro 2020 firmly on the horizon and Gareth Southgate set to confront some healthy dilemmas in the coming months.
Perhaps the main issue for Grealish is the fact Southgate’s preferred system doesn’t incorporate a number ten – even if the 24-year-old confessed last night that he prefers to play as a No.8 – and that is a problem James Maddison is also facing.
The two players have been depicted as rivals for a place in Southgate’s England squad along with Chelsea’s Mason Mount, but Maddison’s reaction to Grealish’s Monday night display suggests there is no love lost between the pair.
Indeed, the Leicester City star posted a message of admiration for his compatriot on his Instagram story, labelling him as “outstanding”.
Maddison’s attitude is indicative of the rising feel-good factor amongst the pool of English players both within and on the periphery of the squad, and his message of support is a positive sign of the atmosphere Southgate has manufactured.
From one outstanding playmaker to another, a friendly rivalry could be emerging.