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Jack Grealish’s Display Vs Belgium Slammed By Former England International

Jack Grealish’s Display Vs Belgium Slammed By Former England International

“Did he score? Did he get an assist? Did he test the keeper? Sounds like the best attacking midfielder on the planet.”

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

Jack Grealish's display against Belgium and his overall role in the team have been given a damning verdict by former England international Danny Mills.

Gareth Southgate has been under pressure to pick Grealish due to his outstanding form for Aston Villa, but there are questions over where he'd fit into England's system. Mills echoed that line of thinking - but also tore apart Grealish's performance versus Belgium in the Nations League.

Responding to an Instagram post on Grealish, Mills commented: "What's his role in the team?????

"Did he score? Did he get an assist? Did he test the keeper? Sounds like the best attacking midfielder on the planet."

Grealish's second-half contribution in the 2-0 defeat to Belgium was highly praised, in particular by England manager Southgate.

"Today was a great game for us to see him in. I couldn't speak highly enough of his performance," said Southgate after the 25-year-old's first competitive start for his country.

"I thought Jack Grealish had an absolutely outstanding game. Losing Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, we lose a lot of speed. But I can't fault the attacking play until the last chance.

"I saw what I knew I would see from Jack, someone with the bravery to play... I thought he was outstanding - he should be delighted. I explained to him what we wanted to see when we brought him in in September."

However former Leeds and Manchester City right-back Mills, who played all five games for England during the 2002 World Cup, gave a strongly different perspective, claiming Grealish's display has been overrated.

It's true that while Grealish had a number of exquisite touches - including one to flick the ball past Thomas Meunier - and was lively throughout the game, he was not able to conjure up a goal or an assist.

You can take this to mean Grealish was not really as effective as advertised, as Mills does, or that his England teammates were not at his level against elite-level opponents on the night. That's clearly a matter for debate.

As is Grealish's role within the side. If Southgate prefers to use more defensively-minded central midfielders, with the attack coming via pace on the flanks from the likes of Sterling, Rashford and Jadon Sancho (playing off Harry Kane up top), where exactly does Grealish fit in? Although Aston Villa fans will tell you he's perfectly capable of playing an attacking role on the left.

Do you, like Mills, believe Grealish's performance was hugely overrated? Or is he the second coming of Paul Gascoigne?

We will accept no views in between, so let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Featured image credit: PA Images

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Topics: Football News, Aston Villa, Football, Jack Grealish, England, England football, Gareth Southgate