Getty/GOAL
Jack Grealish's omission from Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad was not just a surprise, but also completely ridiculous. Only a handful of Premier League players have made better starts to the season than Grealish, who has quickly rediscovered the form that once saw him touted as one of the brightest talents of his generation, since joining Everton on loan from Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
Most of the negative reaction to the October squad announcement centered around the absence of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, but Tuchel can justify those decisions. Bellingham has only just returned to action at Real Madrid after recovering from shoulder surgery, and although [Foden is back on track at Man City](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/greatphil-foden-revival-man-city-starboy-back-best-new-position-battling-injuries-illness-demons/blt74f12ef2a19bad05) after a frustrating 2024-25 campaign, the 25-year-old is still not _quite at_ the PFA Player of the Year level he was at 18 months ago and still needs more pushing, having yet to properly convince in an England shirt.
Grealish, though, is a different case. He registered four assists in his first five Premier League appearances for Everton, and also shone in their 1-1 draw with West Ham on September 29. The Toffees weren't functioning at their best, but Grealish racked up four key passes, taking his overall tally for the season to 19 - the best in the division after six matches.
It should have been a given that he'd be one of the 24 men called up for England's friendly against Wales and World Cup qualifying clash with Latvia. Tuchel had other ideas, but did at least insist the door is still open for Grealish ahead of next summer's World Cup. "There is always a way back into the camp," the England boss said on Friday. "Jack knows that I see how influential he is for Everton and that he is on his way to be the best version of himself."
That would be fine if the big kick-off in North America wasn't just eight months away. Tuchel is rapidly running out of time to nail down his best starting XI, and has now blown another chance to get a proper, close-up look at the unique skillset Grealish can bring England in a position that continues to be a major issue...