New England boss Thomas Tuchel handed Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson Three Lions recalls and named Newcastle’s veteran defender Dan Burn in his squad, but had no place for the £100million Manchester City star
Jack Grealish has confessed that he is not in good enough form to warrant an England call-up.
Thomas Tuchel also admitted that it is “not ideal” for Grealish to get pictured on boozy nights out and partying during the season. England boss Tuchel revealed that he had spoken to Grealish and the £100m Manchester City star said he was enduring a “stop-start” season.
Tuchel said: “I love Jack. As a headline, I love Jack. I love everything about him. I love his personality, I love his quality.
“The guy has courage, he can take the heat, he’s not afraid of the Bernabeu whistles when he’s on the ball, it does not affect him and if it affects him only in the best way. So is he a player that should be available and can have an impact in our squad? Yes, 100 per cent.
“But lately, he simply has no rhythm and he himself and I agree 100 per cent with this, he said ‘listen Thomas, I’m not a start-stop player. It is so hard for me to influence a match from the bench and then be on the bench again, and then two weeks later I start again.’
“The more he plays the better he gets and then he becomes a proper machine. And he has, of course, a character to him that he can be the glue also in the team. It’s very easy for youngsters and for experienced players to be attached to him and to be close to him.
“But this comes also with responsibility off the pitch and, of course, it’s not ideal that he’s in the newspapers and out there in public. But it was a sporting choice and in his position Anthony Gordon is just more rhythm, more minutes.”
Grealish, 29, has won 39 caps but lost his place at City despite being a huge part of interim boss Lee Carsley’s brief reign as England caretaker.
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