Jack Grealish looks like a player reborn ever since he completed his loan move to Everton from Manchester City this summer.
The winger experienced a very tough 2024/25 campaign as the Englishman fell out of Pep Guardiola’s plans at Man City, which culminated in Grealish being left at home when the Manchester club travelled to the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
That was the signal the 29-year-old needed to leave the Etihad Stadium, as if he stayed in Manchester, it would have ended any hope of him being part of the England squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Grealish looks free since moving to Everton, and Joe Cole wants to see the winger with England at the World Cup, as the pundit believes the 29-year-old is the best in the world at one specific thing.
Jack Grealish celebrates during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Jack Grealish is the best at taking pressure off his team
Grealish has already made history since joining Everton, as the Man City loanee is the first player ever to provide two or more assists in consecutive Premier League appearances for the club.
Alan Shearer thinks Grealish has a new lease of life, and considering that, Cole wants to see the 29-year-old with England at the World Cup, as he believes he is the best at taking pressure off the teams he plays for.
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“I’m really excited about Jack Grealish coming back and playing. He’s been brilliant since he started at Everton, and you know, like I’m a massive fan of his. I really love the way he plays football,” Cole said on talkSPORT.
“I know in a tournament in the summer, you can’t, I don’t think you can play a style of football where you don’t have the ball. We’ve all played tournaments and preseasons in this weather.
“Like you have to have players on the ball who can handle the ball, get you up the pitch, win you free kicks, and there’s no one better in world football than Jack.
“So I think we’re missing a trick if Jack’s not integrated back into the squad. I think he’s still got something to say in an England shirt.”
Jack Grealish is one of the most fouled players in the Premier League
Grealish has been one of the most impactful players in the Premier League through three matches, with the winger winning the second-most ground duels (19) in the division, while the Man City loanee also tops the goal contributions chart with four.
When it comes to what Cole is talking about, Grealish is the second most fouled player in the Premier League, having been taken down nine times. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo is the only man ahead of the Toffees star.
This is definitely a useful trait to have in tournament football. For example, if England are 1-0 up in a match and are sitting back to protect that lead, Grealish would be perfect off the bench to carry the ball up the field to relieve some pressure.
The Man City loanee still has a lot of work to do to get on the plane to the World Cup; however, if he keeps performing at his current level, there will be plenty of people banging the drum for him to be included.