Pundit compares Aston Villa star to Italy legend; says he could surpass Gerrard and Lampard

Follow us on Google Discover

Former England international Alan Hudson has heaped praise on Aston Villa star Jack Grealish in his column for The Telegraph.

The 24-year-old was a surprise omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad last week for the Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark, with the Three Lions boss receiving criticism from fans and pundits.

However, Grealish was brought in after Spurs’ Harry Winks and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford withdrew from the squad. It’s hard to argue Grealish doesn’t deserve his chance.

The Villa skipper played a major part in helping his side avoid relegation from the Premier League last season. Grealish scored ten goals and provided eight assists in all competitions. He can only get better with more talented players around him in the national team.

Golden generation

In the past, many midfielders have failed to reproduce their club form for England. The so-called golden generation featured Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes, who all struggled to replicate their domestic form on the international stage. However, Hudson feels Grealish can fare better – if Southgate uses him well.

He wrote: “I have become convinced over the past couple of seasons that Jack Grealish is the best thing English football has had going for it for a very long time, certainly the best midfielder the country has produced since Paul Gascoigne.

“He is different in every aspect from anyone we have seen latterly. For me, he could be better than Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard – at international level, that is – for he was born for that stage.

“He is a leader. Smith was right to build the Villa team around him. I would do the same with England. Put the arm band on him and watch him fly. The greatest players thrive on leadership. He could be our Andrea Pirlo.”

Gerrard, Lampard and Pirlo are arguably three of the best midfielders to grace the game during the past two decades. Grealish will have to play out of his skin to reach that level but, with the right players around him, he can be one of England’s best players in the near future.