Joleon Lescott has told Sky Sports that Aston Villa star Jack Grealish deserves more opportunities playing for England.
The former Manchester City centre-back has called for Gareth Southgate to give him more of a chance for the Three Lions after his impressive start to this Premier League campaign.
Grealish has long been ignored by England, but he made his international debut last month, and Lescott wants to see him have a bigger role for England.
“For whatever reason, Grealish is not getting enough minutes,” said Lescott. “He definitely deserves more opportunity and needs more minutes to showcase what he can do.”
“Everyone wanted him in the squad and he deservedly got his place.
“But he didn’t get many minutes in the last games, and it looked like England were struggling [against Denmark].”
Lescott is saying what many have been arguing for months.
Grealish is a supremely talented player and England need to find a place for him, but that is easier said than done.
Southgate’s system doesn’t really account for creative midfielders at the moment and the left-wing spot is usually occupied by either Raheem Sterling or Marcus Rashford; two players that are tough to usurp.
Is Grealish good enough to make a big impact at international level? Of course he is, but England are currently oversaturated with top talent.
It is hard to make a serious argument that they should be building the team around a player whose team narrowly avoided relegation last term.
Grealish is a big fish in a small pond at Villa Park but, at international level, it’s a different story.
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