Grealish makes admission over England place as Southgate faces big decision
Jack Grealish has warned a big name could miss out on the Euros because of the fierce competition for places.
Grealish admits he is even nervous because of the wealth of talent in the forward areas behind Harry Kane and it will be a battle to get into Gareth Southgate ’s 23 man squad for next summer.
Manchester City ’s £100m star has been a bit-part player for his club this season while Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford are all facing new rivals for places with Jarrod Bowen and Cole Palmer also in red-hot form.
Raheem Sterling has lost his place in the England set-up and the battle for what could be just four places in the wide areas has never been tougher.
Grealish confessed nerves are creeping in and said: “I think there will be for everyone particular in the attacking positions. There is obviously Harry up front and then behind him there is talent there. It is ridiculous.
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“There are so many good players playing well. So yes. We have all got to have a good second half of the season as everyone wants to go to the Euros.
“I thought I played well against North Macedonia. I created chances and should have had the goal, or I thought it was a goal at the time. But I feel like I still have a few gears to go up and step up to.”
Grealish has also seen what has happened to Sterling who has gone from being a guaranteed starter and a big game player for England in major tournaments to being ousted from the squad.
Grealish and Saka are among the options for Southgate in wide areasEngland boss Southgate has had more to choose from in the last two tournaments as 26 players were allowed at the last Euros because of Covid and at the Qatar World Cup because it was a mid-season tournament.
But UEFA are set to go back to 23 players for Germany next summer and the make-up of the squad means every national boss will have a tougher task to squeeze all his players in as they also face a dilemma as to how many to take for each position.
Chelsea forward Sterling has insisted he will not give up on getting back into the England set-up but that particular area is more competitive than any other position on the pitch.
Grealish said: “Raheem is obviously playing really well at the moment. So are the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and I feel like I am playing well at the moment. I am just not having any luck in front of goal at the moment and that showed. But like I said, there are so many good players.
“Cole Palmer has come in this camp and done really well, Jarrod Bowen is doing really well so there is massive competition in those attacking places but that is what you want.”
Meanwhile, Grealish is also hoping that he can take his new confidence into City’s top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool at the Etihad on Saturday lunchtime.
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Liverpool are in good form, are showing signs of being genuine title challengers this season and Grealish says that City will be desperate to repeat recent successes with a statement victory over Jurgen Klopp ’s men.
Grealish added: “It is going to be a massive game, first vs second. Liverpool have come back and are doing really good this season. I will be looking forward to it. I had a really good game in that fixture at the Etihad so hopefully I can do that again.”
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