Kevin Phillips reckons that Jack Grealish will start England’s crunch Euro 2020 round of 16 fixture against Germany on Tuesday evening.
The Lowdown: Grealish was the difference maker v Czech Republic
Evolving into a key player for club and country, the 25-year-old Aston Villa captain currently has the world at his feet.
Following calls from fans up and down the country for him to start at the European Championship after being left out of the first two line-ups, he finally got the call against the Czech Republic last week, recording an assist in a 1-0 victory for the Three Lions [BBC].
As one of the biggest fixtures for England in recent times approaches, could Grealish get the nod in the English attack against their German rivals after his recent form?
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The Latest: Phillips drops complimentary verdict on Grealish
Sky Sports pundit Phillips was very complimentary in his assessment as to whether Grealish should start the Wembley encounter.
In a recent interview with Football Insider, he stated: “Grealish has to start. Every pundit, journalist and supporter wants Grealish to start tomorrow night and I think he will.
“He offers too much to the side in terms of creativity, winning fouls and ball retention to be dropped.
“The way he linked up with Saka the other night was wonderful to watch. Something always happens when Grealish is playing.
“Is the video of the four of them doing a shooting drill an indication that they are going to start? From my experience, you cannot read too much into it.
“Southgate is not daft. He will not be giving anything away before the match. I expect Grealish to play though. 100 per cent.”
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The Verdict: Phillips makes a valid point
Phillips correctly points out the multitude of qualities that the boyhood Villa fan brings to the table, whether it be for the Villains or his country.
Never shy to take on a man, there is a reason he has been the most-fouled player in the Premier League over the last 12 months [GIVEMESPORT]. He dazzled domestically in 2020/21, chipping in with 19 goal contributions in 27 outings for Aston Villa, with seven goals and 12 assists to his name [Transfermarkt].
Whether it’s for Villa or England, Grealish provides a special skillset which enriches not only his team’s prospects but also inspires the players around him.
If England have much designs on beating Germany in London, Southgate could do a lot worse than to start the Villa playmaker.
In other news, these Aston Villa fans react to one man’s potential Villa Park return.
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