England Call for Grealish? Toffees Loanee Providing England Manager a Headache

Referee the official had barely blown the final whistle to confirm the Toffees' dramatic late win over Crystal Palace when the Merseyside outfit changed the bio on their X account.

Underneath the team's iconic badge were displayed three words: England Needs Grealish.

It is almost a year since Jack Grealish last sported a England shirt in a 3-1 international win over Finland in Helsinki under interim manager Lee Carsley.

And it will be some time before the veteran player receives the chance to play for his national team again after being omitted from Thomas Tuchel's latest squad for a exhibition match against Wales next Thursday, followed by a World Cup qualifier in Latvia on 14 October.

However, one aspect remains perfectly evident: the playmaker is doing everything he can to play his way into Tuchel's plans for the upcoming World Cup.

After providing four assists in his initial half-dozen top-flight appearances for the Blues, the midfielder netted the 93rd-minute winner to seal his team's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved Beto from close quarters.

Timed at the 92nd minute, it was Everton's latest home Premier League winning goal since March 2022 against the Magpies - deep into added time.

"Can you believe this?" said Grealish, in an interview with broadcasters after the match.

"Our recent matches we've played here we've been tied and I've said to myself in the closing stages, 'push yourself, go and score. Think about scoring a late goal'.

"I said it against Villa, and I didn't score. I said it against the Hammers and I couldn't convert.

"Today, I really thought the exact words again and I put it in. I ran to where my parents were, so it was special."

• Grealish 93rd-minute winner for the Toffees ends Palace unbeaten run
• 'Exceeding expectations' - Moyes praises maverick Grealish after win

'England omission not a big deal'

The weekend's game was the midfielder's last for three weeks - having just managed to string together six successive league starts for the initial occasion in almost 30 months.

He will be not allowed to face his parent club City when Everton resume play after the international break on October 18.

It's over eight months before the start of the World Cup. Will Grealish be included on the national team flight?

"You know what?" he shared with the radio station after the Palace game, "it's not as serious as everyone says."

"At the end of the day, you want to play for the national team but others are performing strongly in my role. I'm doing well also, but the people selected previously did really well in the recent matches so that's fine with me.

"The coach makes the choices and I completely understand that."

He added: "I'm focused on playing for Everton because that's who showed faith in me and had confidence in me, so I'm really enjoying it here."

But, ex-international the legendary forward informed the media that Grealish's form for Everton will be giving Tuchel a "selection problem".

"All Jack can do is continue performing what he is achieving, obviously getting a goal today," said the pundit, who scored over fifty strikes in more than a hundred games for England.

"I'm sure if he maintains that he will be in contention come the tournament.

"If Jack plays, his ability will show, so I'm sure he'll be giving the England manager a dilemma."

'In the right place'

Tuchel maintains the door remains open for Grealish, who has numerous international appearances and four goals for his country, in terms of the World Cup next season.

"There is always a way back into the squad," the national team coach said on Friday.

"He is aware that I recognize how influential he is for the team and that he is on his way to be the top form of himself."

During his seven Premier League games since joining on a season-long loan from City, he has logged significant game time, had five goal involvements, set up numerous opportunities and had several attempts.

"Jack's done great again," said manager the coach after his side's first win since late August.

"I have been urging him to get goals. He is Johnny-on-the-spot.

"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was fantastic and the forward should have buried it. But Jack is positioned well to get the goal."

Moyes disclosed the player had skipped training during the week because of a minor injury, adding: "He's needed to miss the occasional session of training but he is doing a many good things."

The midfielder was not the sole individual excluded from the manager's England squad who succeeded to find the net this weekend.

The forward scored once more for Barcelona - although they were beaten four-one at their opponents - while the midfielder scored in Manchester United 2-0 win over the Black Cats on Saturday.