By 
Aston Villa’s captain and midfield maestro is yet to fulfil his dream of playing for England.
Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy
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Ever since Jack Grealish declared for England at Under 21 level, it has been a personal dream of the Aston Villa midfielder to receive a call-up to, and in turn, play for the England National team.
This has been somewhat suppressed by outside influences in recent seasons, with current manager Gareth Southgate stating last season that Jack would need to be playing Premier League football to find himself in a squad – despite the former Aston Villa defender calling up Mason Mount during his loan spell at Derby County last season.
Grealish will have been disappointed to miss out in the previous two opportunities this season; where team-mates Tom Heaton and Tyrone Mings have found their way into the squad, with the latter making his debut in a anti-racism fueled drubbing of Bulgaria and picking up widespread acclaim for not only his performance – but his attitude too.
On a dreary, damp Thursday afternoon – the disappointment will have been exacerbated by Jack once again not being selected.
There were fears that despite his fine form, Grealish would miss out on the call-up due to fitness issues after the Aston Villa midfielder sustained an injury against Manchester City in the final week of October.
Gareth Southgate has recalled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, John Stones and Callum Hudson-Odoi for the forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.
The England manager has also included Mason Mount, despite concerns over an ankle injury, meaning Jack Grealish misses out.
The squad, in full, includes two Aston Villa players:
GOALKEEPERS: Heaton, Pickford, Pope
DEFENDERS: Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Gomez, Maguire, Mings, Rose, Stones, Tomori, Tomori
MIDFIELDERS: Barkley, Delph, Henderson, Maddison, Maddison, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rice, Winks
FORWARDS: Abraham, Hudson-Odoi, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling, Wilson
Speaking as a Villa fan – and one who firmly believes Grealish should be in England’s plans – this is probably the right call for the club, if not the player.
If Grealish isn’t 100% (having sat out the Liverpool game), then the best move is to let him continue to rest up and get himself back to full fitness. There’s a gruelling schedule coming up over the next two months, and having him travel with the International squad for a pair of games where he may not even feature much isn’t ideal preparation.
If he IS 100% and back to full fitness, then no doubt Jack will use the Wolves game to show Southgate what he’s missing out on. Then he can rest up for international break ahead of the Christmas fixtures.
Either way, the way Grealish has been performing so far this season the call up will come, and soon.