Jack Grealish must be included in England’s squad for Euro 224, according to his former boss Steve Bruce.
The Manchester City star came through the ranks with Aston Villa where he played under Bruce for two years as the club attempted to gain promotion from the Championship.
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Playing as Bruce’s captain, Grealish was Villa’s talisman, earning him a £100 million move to Man City in 2021 after guiding his boyhood club to the elite and safety from the fall.
Since then, the 28-year-old has won numerous titles, including the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup, with some stunning performances along the way.
But even though his form this season has been far from impressive, Bruce still believes he should be included in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad.
When asked if Grealish should be on the plane to Germany, Bruce told White & Jordan: “For me, yes.
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“I’m going to do it because I’m a big admirer of Jack having worked with him – especially at a competition when you’re away for six weeks – you need someone like Jack to have by your side.
“It’s not just about his footballing abilities, but also about his personality, the way he is and the way he behaves within the group.
“He’s a really fun and really great boy and of course the kid can play and offer something different, which obviously others can’t, in my opinion.
“For me, he must be on the plane.”
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When asked the same question, Simon Jordan said: “I’m not a huge die-hard Jack Grealish fan.
“I appreciate that he is a good player and I appreciate that the price paid for him is not his fault and I appreciate that Pep Guardiola is not blind and does not buy bad players.
“But I don’t look at Grealish the same way as others. He doesn’t drop the ball enough, he doesn’t do the things he should and could do and he’s not as effective as people think and this season he hasn’t done much.
“If you bring him in because of what you think he could do – I don’t know, is that what allows you to select someone to play for England?
“I thought you were selected based on what you do, not what you could do and your recent form.
“I don’t think he’s ready to fly this summer. I understand why Steve would do it and I don’t have a particular opinion on whether he will or not.
