‘I would have’… ESPN pundit says England have made big mistake over Manchester City star Jack Grealish

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Shaka Hislop has given his verdict on whether he was surprised by one key decision made by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024.

Gareth Southgate has named his final 26-man squad for the European Championship in Germany and there have been some surprise absentees from the squad including James Maddison and Jack Grealish.

Harry Maguire, who was such a lynchpin for England in the previous European Championship campaign, will miss the tournament in Germany due to suffering with a calf problem.

Jarrad Branthwaite, who could have been a more than capable deputy to Maguire, has also been omitted from Southgate’s final squad for the tournament.

Hislop on one key absentee

Speaking on ESPN, the former Newcastle United and West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop admits he was surprised by Grealish’s exclusion.

“Very (surprised),” Hislop began. “I think Grealish brings something, let me say it, very (surprised) in that Grealish brings something I don’t think many in the England squad do, but he has not featured an awful lot for Manchester City, he has had injury issues, I wonder if that has played a part in Gareth Southgate’s decision.

“But still, Jack Grealish, his talents on the ball, and again, if you need at some point, find yourself needing somebody just to provide a spark of creativity, to be able to take players on one-on-one, I am not sure that there are many better at that role.

“So, even for that with an expanded squad of 26, unless he is carrying an injury and wouldn’t be able to feature, I would have included him.”

Grealish’s poor season

Despite how well Grealish has done in the past, based on this season alone the Manchester City winger did not deserve the call-up to Southgate’s squad.

Another big name in Marcus Rashford missed out on the final 30-man squad for the tournament,so if a player with Rashford’s capabilities misses out, then so should Grealish.

With Anthony Gordon performing as well as he has done, and Eberechi Eze, too, leaving out Grealish felt like the logical decision. The City winger had scored just three goals in the league last season.