Speaking to CBS Sports, Aston Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has said that it’s just a matter of time before Gareth Southgate drops Mason Mount in favour of Jack Grealish in the England starting XI.
Grealish is finally making his mark on the international scene after years of being overlooked by the higher-ups in the national team, but it seems as though he still isn’t one of Southgate’s favourites.
Indeed, the England manager has continued to consistently choose Mount ahead of him in the XI, but Agbonlahor believes Grealish’s performances will force his hand sooner rather than later.
“I think it’s been known across the press here and the media that Southgate, there’s something he really doesn’t like about Jack Grealish.” Agbonlahor said.
“I’ve noticed that whenever he has an interview about Jack he’ll bring up Mason Mount, it’s actually quite laughable. It’s like Mason Mount is his son, and he wants to play his son in every game no matter if another player is playing three times better than your son.
“Sooner or later it comes to a stage where a player is performing like Jack and you have to drop your son and bring in the superstar, and that’s what will happen in these three games coming up.”
Mount may reject the notion that he’s locked in a rivalry with Grealish, but it’s clear to see that those two are vying for the same position in this team.
At the moment, Grealish does seem to be the better player after such an incredible start to the season, but Mount is a more than capable player.
It’s a little unfair from Agbonlahor to paint Mount as someone who doesn’t deserve the chances he has been handed, but he is right about the fact that Grealish deserves a shot ahead of him at this moment in time.
Whether or not the Villa captain will force Southgate’s hand in the coming games remains to be seen, but Agbonlahor is certainly backing him to make an impact.
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