JACK GREALISH aimed a thinly veiled dig at Gareth Southgate as he was left out of the England squad.
Aston Villa ace Grealish hoped to make the 24-man Three Lions party after saving his Midlands club from relegation.
But uncapped Grealish did not take it well, ‘liking’ a Twitter post comparing his stats to Leeds’ star Kalvin Phillips, who made the squad despite no Prem experience.
The ‘like’ was deleted but Grealish had made his point. Boss Southgate left him out due to the sensational form of Manchester United’s 18-year-old Mason Greenwood.
Southgate said: “With Jack, the simple answer is Mason Greenwood.
“He’s competing with Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling.”
Yet it is clear Southgate does not fancy Grealish, 24, seeing him only as an attacker, not a midfielder.
He added: “I know Villa have played him as No 8, I don’t see him in that role.
“He could be a No 10 but we haven’t played like that and some of those other players I’ve talked about would be very good No 10s as well.”
Greenwood’s call-up is impossible to argue with — after 17 goals in a real breakout season.
While Manchester City wonderkid Phil Foden, 20, is also well deserving of his first senior call.
Southgate said: “Jack’s a talent, no doubt, but Mason was impossible to leave out — and we’ve looked at Phil a long time.
“We’re four meet-ups from the Euros and we feel they’re good enough.”
