Jack Grealish appears to have made a swift return to England training, despite being left out of Lee Carsley’s squad for the Nations League clash against Greece, where England suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat. Grealish had picked up a minor injury while on international duty and was handled cautiously to avoid further complications.
England struggled without the Manchester City star, who had impressed during the September international break. Carsley’s team, even without Grealish, fielded a highly attacking lineup, featuring Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Anthony Gordon from the start. Despite this, the strategy backfired, as England lacked a true focal point and struggled to maintain fluidity in their play. Greece capitalized on England’s vulnerabilities, particularly in midfield, where only Declan Rice was selected as a defensive option, leaving gaps for quick counterattacks.
Grealish watched from the sidelines, having arrived at the training camp in Burton earlier in the week, where he sustained a knock. “We’ll assess Jack later,” Carsley said before the match, emphasizing the importance of player welfare. “Our attitude is that we won’t gamble with any of the players. It’s important we put them first rather than ourselves. They will be okay in a couple of days, so we’re not going to take any risks with them.”
Fortunately for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, Grealish appears to have made a full recovery. A post shared online by England on Friday showed Grealish back in training alongside teammates Harry Kane, Marc Guehi, and Kyle Walker, none of whom featured in the defeat to Greece. England’s next match is against Finland on Sunday evening, providing a chance for Grealish to return to action if fully fit.
City fans will be relieved to know that there’s ample time for recovery before their next Premier League fixture, a week later against Wolves. Having lost this matchup last season, City will be keen to secure a stronger result. Grealish, who has been an integral part of Guardiola’s squad this season, is likely to be called upon if he’s in top condition. The 29-year-old has already featured in all but one of City’s matches across competitions, starting six of nine. Despite the risks of international duty, Guardiola has supported his players accepting call-ups, balancing club and country commitments.
Leave a Reply