Jack Grealish has had a superb start to his career on loan at Everton, with many calling for him to earn a recall to the England squad
Mark is a Content Editor at Reach PLC's Liverpool Hub, and was appointed to the role in 2025. Prior to that appointment he worked solely for the Mirror for nine years, primarily in the role of Sports Features Editor. An experienced sports writer and editor, Mark worked for the Mirror at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and at Euro 2024 in Germany. A regular contributor to podcasts and videos, his work can be seen both in print and online, and his exclusive interview with the Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in April 2024 is one of many successful projects Mark has completed for Reach PLC.
Jack Grealish has found a new lease of life at Everton
Jack Grealish has found a new lease of life at Everton
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It is increasingly difficult to find the wholesome moments in top-flight football, but there was one on Sunday afternoon. Jack Grealish, fresh from being in the right place at the right time to force home Everton's last gasp winner against Crystal Palace, was put in front of the Sky Sports cameras, and the on-loan Blues star was unable to hide the smile on his face - not that he had any intention of concealing it.
"It's brilliant. It's so nice to score here," he said. "Do you know what's mad? The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I kept saying to myself in the 85th minute, 'Come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'."
And thanks to Daniel Munoz's hurried clearance he didn't have to imagine, with the Colombian slamming the ball into Grealish's challenge and then watching in horror as it then hit the back of the net, ending Palace's unbeaten run and giving Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium its first lift-off moment in the process.
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Evertonians were obviously overjoyed at the stoppage time winner, but it was impossible to ignore that it carried something a lot deeper for someone who was a £100m footballer just four years ago, but who had somewhat lost his way due to injuries and the relentless demands of playing for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, something he admitted took a toll mentally.
Refreshed and revitalised on Merseyside, Grealish, 30 last month, had come into this game with the demands of his manager David Moyes to try and get into scoring positions more often ringing in his ears.
"I did it against Villa, I did it against West Ham and I didn't score," he said in that Sky Sports interview, again while grinning. "So today I actually said the same thing again and I scored and I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was nice. That goal goes to all the Evertonians for making me feel so welcome here."
Indeed, this new union between Grealish and Everton does look to be a match made in heaven, that rare case of a club and a player finding each other at the perfect time.
There have been calls for Grealish to get back into the England squad
There have been calls for Grealish to get back into the England squad
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Things are going so well for August's Premier League player of the month that there has been an outcry that he isn't in the latest England squad, with the praise of two men who scored 93 goals for the Three Lions between them ringing in his ears.
"I really like him," Michael Owen told 247Bet recently. "I think he’s a great guy and I’ve been very supportive of him. I’d always said I don’t really think his style of play suited Manchester City. Obviously, Everton have got themselves a great player who could continue to be very effective for them."
Meanwhile Wayne Rooney, once very effective for Everton himself, told the BBC on Sunday: "All Jack can do is keep doing what he is doing, obviously getting a goal today,"
"I'm sure if he keeps doing that he will be there or thereabouts (at the World Cup) come the summer. If Jack plays his talent will show, so I'm sure he'll be giving the England manager a headache."
Thomas Tuchel should indeed be seriously considering adding Grealish to his squad, but right now that all seems arbitrary. Is it not better to focus on the footballer finding himself and the fanbase who have so quickly taken him to their hearts?
Grealish has been one of the stories of this Premier League season so far, and right now he is telling a heartwarming tale that you can't take your eyes off.
England recognition might well come again, but right now it is the acceptance he's found on Merseyside which will be meaning so much more to him.