The Villans captain declared for England four years ago but is yet to win a senior cap for the Three Lions.
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish has been tipped by Stan Collymore in his column in The Mirror as a potential – and “very exciting” – solution to England’s creative midfield struggles.
The 23-year-old will be plying his trade in the Premier League next term after helping his boyhood club back into the top flight via the Championship playoffs.
Grealish’s return from injury proved the catalyst for Dean Smith’s side to go on an impressive winning run which culminated in a top-six finish.
West Bromwich Albion and Derby County were then seen off in the playoffs to ensure that Villa would be back in the top flight for the first time since 2016.
In 2015, Grealish pledged his international allegiance to England after playing for the Republic of Ireland’s youth teams (BBC Sport) but he is yet to win a cap at senior level, though he has turned out for the Three Lions’ Under-21s (Transfermarkt).
With Villa now back in the Premier League, Grealish is now more likely to get a look-in from England boss Gareth Southgate, and Villa legend Collymore shared how he noticed plenty of national team fans in Portugal – for the Nations League game against the Netherlands – crying out for a creative midfielder.
“We still don’t quite seem to have someone who can open up the best teams in the international game,” Collymore wrote in the Daily Mirror. “So I’m going to stick Jack Grealish into the mix now he’s back in the Premier League, because here’s a man who gets the ball, drifts past people and plays little passes with the outside of the foot that can bamboozle opponents.
“If Villa do well then he could be given an opportunity because he’s one of those players who will identify little pockets around the pitch and exploit them. With Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane in front of him, the prospect of Grealish could be very exciting for England.”
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