‘I knew I would see someone with bravery to play’: Gareth Southgate heaps praise on ‘absolutely outstanding’ Jack Grealish after England midfielder shone despite Nations League defeat in Belgium
- Jack Grealish was the standout performer for England in their defeat to Belgium
- The Three Lions lost 2-0 but Grealish delighted with his deft touches and tricks
- He has surely proven to Gareth Southgate that he’s worthy addition to the squad
England manager Gareth Southgate has hailed the performance of Jack Grealish during England’s 2-0 defeat to Belgium in the Nations League on Sunday evening.
The Three Lions saw their hopes of reaching the finals come to an end as goals from Youri Tielemans and Dries Mertens secured victory for the No 1 ranked side in the world.
However, there was little doubt over which players was the best on the night.
Jack Grealish was the standout player during England’s defeat to Belgium on Sunday night
Grealish, who made his first competitive start for his country, was brilliant and Southgate was mightily impressed.
‘I knew I would see someone with bravery to play,’ he said after the game when asked about the Aston Villa star.
‘I think we took the ball in tight areas. His technique was good, he took players out of the game. He bought a lot of free-kicks.
‘I thought he was outstanding, he should be delighted with the way he played.
Gareth Southgate has hailed the performance of Grealish on his competitive debut
And Southgate also confirmed that Grealish had moved himself up the pecking order.
‘Yeah 100 per cent. I sort of explained to him what we wanted to see from him when he came in in September.
‘I think he’s been a helpful addition to the group, he shows he wants to play, the players have a good understanding. Today was a great game for us to see him and see the level and I couldn’t speak highly enough of his performances.’
Grealish sent a huge message to Gareth Southgate after impressing against Belgium