JACK GREALISH has been challenged to “get better” and be “more tactically aware” in order to earn a starting place for England by boss Gareth Southgate.
The £100million Manchester City star made another impressive impact off the bench last night as the Three Lions secured a 1-1 Nations League draw in Germany.
Southgate’s men went behind and looked to be heading for a second-consecutive defeat until Grealish’s introduction with 20 minutes remaining.
The former Aston Villa man instantly began to influence the clash down the left and played a key role in England earning an equaliser courtesy of Harry Kane’s 50th international goal from the penalty spot late on.
Grealish has only featured from the start in three of his last 11 caps in competitive matches for England with the manager seemingly preferring to use him as an impact sub.
The England boss has even been coming under pressure to use Grealish more, with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker tweeting last night: “The introduction of @JackGrealish has made a difference. You have to take chances to make things happen at this level.”
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Southgate is adamant that he has full belief that he can be just as valuable from the off as he is coming off the bench.
However, he did admit that he thinks Grealish can improve tactically.
Southgate said: “He can do both. If we didn’t trust him we wouldn’t put him on the pitch with 20 minutes to go in the belief he can make a difference.
“At the start of the game the challenge for the wide players was to attack, defend and to try and score goals – high tactical level and you’ve got to be spot on – and that’s an area Jack can get better at.
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“What he did do was carry the ball as the game opened up with a little bit more space and opportunity.
“The impact both he and Jarrod Bowen had was really important in those attacking areas.
“There is a good challenge there among those players but we’ve got to keep pushing them.”
Grealish will be desperate to start England’s next Nations League clash against Italy at Molineux on Saturday.
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