England Call for Grealish? Everton Loanee Providing England Manager a Headache
'Jack Grealish has been a massive help' - Everton Boss
Match official the official had barely sounded the final whistle to confirm Everton's dramatic late win over the Eagles when the Merseyside outfit updated the bio on their X account.
Below the team's iconic badge appeared three words: Grealish Deserves England Call.
It's nearly a year since Jack Grealish last wore a England shirt in a three-one international win over the Finns in Helsinki under interim manager Lee Carsley.
And it will be some time before the veteran player receives the chance to represent his national team again after being left out from the England boss's latest squad for a friendly against Wales next midweek, followed by a World Cup qualifier in the Baltic nation on 14 October.
However, one aspect remains crystal clear: the playmaker is doing everything he can to play his way into the manager's plans for the upcoming World Cup.
Having delivered several key passes in his initial half-dozen Premier League appearances for Everton, Grealish netted the 93rd-minute winner to secure his side's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved the striker from close quarters.
Timed at 92 minutes and 21 seconds, it was Everton's most recent home Premier League winning goal since March 2022 against Newcastle - deep into added time.
"Can you believe this?" remarked the star, in an interview with broadcasters after the match.
"The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I've said to myself in the closing stages, 'push yourself, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'.
"I said it against Villa, and I didn't score. I repeated it against West Ham and I couldn't convert.
"Today, I really thought the same thing again and I put it in. I sprinted towards where my parents were, so it was nice."
- Grealish 93rd-minute winner for Everton ends Palace unbeaten run
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'Not playing for England isn't deep'
The weekend's game was Grealish's last for three weeks - having only recently to put together six straight league starts for the first time in nearly two and a half years.
He will be ineligible to face his parent club City when his loan side resume play after the international break on October 18.
There are 249 days before the start of the global tournament. Will Grealish be included on the national team flight?
"Honestly," he shared with BBC Radio 5 Live after the Palace game, "it's not as serious as people make out."
"At the end of the day, you want to play for the England side but others are doing well in my role. I'm doing well also, but the people picked last month did really well in the two games so that's fine with me.
"That's the manager's decision and I fully respect that."
Grealish added: "My priority is playing for Everton because that's who showed faith in me and had confidence in me, so I'm really enjoying it here."
But, ex-international the legendary forward informed BBC Sport that the player's performances for the Merseysiders will be creating the England boss a "selection problem".
"The only thing for him is keep doing what he is doing, clearly scoring a winner today," said the pundit, who scored 53 goals in 120 appearances for England.
"I'm sure if he maintains that he will be in contention come the tournament.
"If Jack plays, his talent will show, so I'm sure he'll be posing the England manager a dilemma."
'In the right place'
The attacker featured in seven top division games last season - he's started half a dozen since joining Everton in August.
The England manager insists the door remains open for the playmaker, who has numerous international appearances and four goals for his country, in terms of the global competition next season.
"There's invariably a way back into the squad," the national team coach stated on Friday.
"He is aware that I recognize how impactful he is for Everton and that he is on his way to be the best version of himself."
In Grealish's several league games since joining on a temporary deal from Manchester City, he has played 556 minutes, had five goal involvements, set up 17 chances and had 10 shots.
"Jack's done great again," said manager David Moyes after his team's initial victory since late August.
"I've been pushing him to score more. He is Johnny-on-the-spot.
"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was incredible and the forward should have buried it. But Jack is positioned well to score the goal."
The manager disclosed Grealish had skipped training during the week because of a slight issue, adding: "He's needed to miss the odd day of training but he is doing a many good things."
The midfielder was not the sole individual excluded from Tuchel's England squad who managed to find the net this weekend.
Marcus Rashford netted again for Barcelona - although they were defeated 4-1 at their opponents - while Mason Mount got a goal in United's 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.