The former Villa boss explained why Grealish has improved at Everton
Jack Grealish with his player of the match award after the match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 5, 2025
Paul Lambert handed Grealish his debut for Villa.(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
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The former Aston Villa manager, who gave Jack Grealish his debut for his boyhood club, has backed him to get himself back into the national team set up in time for England's World Cup 2026 campaign.
Paul Lambert managed the Villans from 2012 until 2015, handing Grealish his debut as a late substitute in a 4–0 Premier League loss to Manchester City, aged 18.
Grealish would go on to become club captain at Villa Park before departing to City in a record-breaking £100million move during August 2021.
"When I had Jack at Villa, he was only a kid. I gave him his debut when he was a kid. I’d bring him up to train with the first team and then put him back with the kids because of the physicality of it," explained the Scottish manager, speaking with Betway.
"He was obviously not fully developed at that time, but I could see his talent. Did we always see eye to eye? No. But as a talent, you could never fault him; the talent was always there."
Manager Paul Lambert of Aston Villa talks to assistant Roy Keane during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Aston Villa at Britannia Stadium on August 16, 2014 in Stoke on Trent, England.
Lambert handed Grealish his Villa debut.(Image: Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
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The winger would lift the Premier League trophy in his first year under Pep Guardiola in Manchester, but recurring injuries and a drop in form saw him feature more from the bench as his tenure continued.
The 2022-2023 season saw City win the continental treble, lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, a season during which Grealish scored five goals and assisted his teammates 11 times in 49 appearances.
But his role continued to diminish until, at the beginning of the current season, he agreed to join Everton on loan to rejuvenate his career. He turned 30 last month.
"He had a good time at Man City, but Everton has given him that freshness again," Lambert continued. "But David Moyes, being a top manager, has probably put his arm around him and said, 'Go play and do your stuff.'
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"He’s not put a restriction on him and allowed him to play with freedom. I think Everton are getting the rewards from it because the way he is playing seems more focused."
Jack has notched an impressive five-goal contributions, one goal and four assists, in seven Premier League matches with Everton, but has also earned plaudits for other aspects of his game, which were seen while with Villa.
"But if you ask Jack how his time at Man City was, he’d probably say he had an incredible time learning from one of the greatest managers in the modern era of football, in Pep Guardiola.
"I think what David’s done is give him a new environment with a different stadium and a new set of fans. The Everton fans have definitely taken to him."
Jack Grealish has admitted he is loving life at Everton and opened up on the unbelievable feeling he experienced after scoring against Crystal Palace
Jack Grealish has admitted he is loving life at Everton.
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The player's reduced role at City saw him fall out of favour with the England national team. He was notably left out of Gareth Southgate's squad for the Euro 2024 tournament, which the side eventually lost to Spain in a 2-1 final.
However, with his renewed form under Moyes, former boss Paul Lambert believes he can force his way back into contention for the national team and add to his 39 caps.
"I think England are in a really good place at the minute with how they’re performing, so he’s going to have a fight on his hands with the other guys that aren’t in the team," Lambert admitted.
"If you look at Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish, taking them on top of what they already have, gives them one hell of a strong squad. But he’s playing well enough to force his way back in."