Jack Grealish: Aston Villa playmaker to make England’s first competitive outing against Belgium | Football news



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Jack Grealish will make his first competitive outing in England when Gareth Southgate’s team take on Belgium in their Nations League Group A2 match on Sunday night.

England face their biggest test of the competition on their trip to Leuven to take on Belgium, the current world No. 1, on Sunday night, live on Sky Sports.

After impressing in the Comfortable 3-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in Thursday’s friendly, the Aston Villa captain will earn his fourth caps.

The news will be received by many as a sign of the intent of England manager Southgate, who has faced criticism for his apparent reluctance to include Grealish from the start.

The 25-year-old remained on the bench for England’s last two official matches: the 2-1 home win to Belgium and the 1-0 away loss to Denmark.

By comparison, Chelsea’s Mason Mount has started both games, but the belief has been perceived that the pair cannot operate effectively on the same side.

But Southgate praised both players after their roles Thursday night against Ireland and insisted they can play in the same XI, with Mount playing in a two midfield and Grealish, who set a goal for Jadon Sancho, left. of a front three.



Jack Grealish is congratulated by Gareth Southgate after being substituted in England's victory over the Republic of Ireland at Wembley.



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Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Gareth Southgate will be pleased with the performances of Jack Grealish and Mason Mount

Rice: Mount vs Grealish debate is pointless

Southgate declined to participate in the debate over whether Mason Mount or Jack Grealish deserved to play ahead of the other for England.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, a lifelong friend of Chelsea midfielder Mount, says the framework of the debate has been tough at Mount and believes there is room for both players to start on the national team, as they did on the England win 3-0. Ireland earlier this week.

“We don’t talk about it, but it’s very harsh,” Rice said of Mount’s criticism. “I know what his mindset is like. I know how motivated he is. No wonder Gareth chose him, Frank [Lampard] He chooses him and if he gives all the coaches in the Premier League a chance, they would choose him too.

“If you look at Jack and Mas, there will always be comparisons, but they are playing in two different parts of the field.

“Mason now at Chelsea is playing as an attacking eight and Jack is playing on the left (at Aston Villa) and we saw the other night that they can both play on the same team and they are both great players that we should value.”



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