Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish receives first time call-up to England senior squad

Jack Grealish, 24, Aston Villa captain, has been called up for the first time to join the England senior squad ahead of the forthcoming UEFA Nations League schedule.

Grealish is ready to join the Three Lions squad at St George’s Park on Monday following Marcus Rashford and Harry Winks withdrawal from the squad.

Rashford, Manchester United striker, had withdrawn from the squad following his knee injury while Winks, Tottenham midfielder, has been made to return to his club.

Gareth Southgate, three Lions boss, had earlier been severely criticized for leaving Grealish out of Gareth Southgate’s initial squad for the Nations League fixtures with Denmark and Iceland.

This has in turn generated controversial debates and rage in some quarters. Grealish himself joined the debate over his being left out of the squad when he reacted to a social media post accusing the England manager of a wrong decision.

Danny Murphy, Ex-Liverpool man expressing regret over Grealish being initially left out of the squad, said,

“I feel for Jack Grealish. “He was superb for Aston Villa last season, one of the standout English players in the Premier League, and was the key to his side’s survival.”

“So, it was a huge blow for him to be left out of the England squad for the Nations League games,” Danny Murphy added.

On September 5, England would face Iceland in Reykjavik after which they would proceed to Copenhagen, three days later to play Denmark.

Grealish, who was the 2016 member of Southgate’s Toulon tournament-winning squad, had earlier played for England at Under-17 level.

Grealish, during last season scored eight goals and six assists in 36 games as the Villa returned to the Premier League, establishing himself as a top-flight playmaker for the club.