GREALISH NO.5 FOR A CALL-UP

JACK GREALISH has been told he is FIFTH in line for an England call-up after another amazing snub.

Gareth Southgate explained Grealish’s absence from the squad by insisting he sees the Aston Villa star as a wide player and Manchester United teenager Mason Greenwood is already ahead of him in the pecking order.

It was another blow for Grealish (below) as the Villa midfielder almost singlehandedly saved his club from relegation – and it does raise question marks as to whether Southgate rates him.

But England boss Southgate, who has also promoted Phil Foden to the seniors, said: “With Jack, the simple answer is Mason Greenwood. He’s competing, in my view, against Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Jason Sancho and Raheem Sterling.

“I know Villa have played him as an eight, I don’t see him in that role for us.

“He could play as a 10, but we haven’t played with a 10. But also some of those other players I’ve talked about would be very good 10s.

“He’s a talent, there’s no doubt about that. But I think Mason Greenwood’s performances… the others have been with us for a long time and have produced and performed well for us. Mason’s form, his goalscoring ability and his maturity were impossible to leave him out. You’re cautious at times to put a young player in too early and we’ve looked at Phil for a long time and thought, ‘Is now the right time?’.

“But I think we’re four get-togethers away from a European Championship and we felt now it’s important to involve Mason and Phil with us, let’s see how they adapt, we think they’re good enough. They’re going to provide massive competition for places.

“Jack is unfortunate and I’ll be getting crucified by the Villa fans who’ve still never forgiven me for leaving for Middlesbrough – but c’est la vie, I did pick Tyrone Mings, so it’s not a club thing.”

Grealish, 24, later let his feelings be known after the call-up snub, his latest by Southgate.

He liked a Sky Bet tweet that read: “Last year Gareth Southgate said that Jack Grealish must gain more Premier League experience to earn a call up. 19/20 stats: Grealish 36 PL appearances, 8 goals, 6 assists, 9 MOTMs. Phillips 0 PL appearances.”