Grealish snub shows a lack of imagination

GARETH SOUTHGATE’S excuses for omitting Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish from his England squad are flimsy.

Villa’s skipper wasn’t given the nod 12 months ago because of a lack of Premier League experience, according to the Three Lions boss, who has nonetheless called up Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips.

Now he’s chosen to use the argument that Grealish doesn’t get a look-in ahead of Mason Greenwood, Raheem Sterling or Jadon Sancho because they are a better bet coming in from the left flank. Okay, we can just about swallow that – although I saw Sancho operating on the right for Dortmund after lockdown and Greenwood has been praised for being two-footed.

Was it Grealish’s stupid act during lockdown that counted against him? Well, it didn’t deter Southgate from picking Kyle Walker, who also erred, so thatt can’t be it, either.

Every single Villa fan out there knows Grealish dragged that club out of the Championship and, eventually, to safety in the Premier League.

My problem with Southgate over the Grealish snub is this: It shows a distinct lack of imagination.

Someone as adept as Grealish (above) at holding the ball, winning free-kicks, and opening up defences has to be selected by his country.

Villa’s captain wipes the floor with the rest of the midfielders at Southgate’s disposal in terms of goals, assists, and chances created. And with a side that was dreadful last term.

England have been crying out for a midfielder who can take the ball in tight situations and play.

Grealish is that player.

HARRY MAGUIRE went on holiday and ended up in a world of bother. Despite the public debate on social media, few know if he’s innocent or guilty.

But one thing is blindingly clear: In this day and age trouble can find you in the blink of an eye.

So, given that backdrop, is a highprofile footballer in a holiday hotspot, guzzling expensive grog like it was going out of fashion, a target?

You suspect Manchester United’s skipper knew the answer to the question before he jetted off to Greece.

There’s plenty of prior examples of footballers getting into trouble in the sun.

It’s a sad truth, but there were one million other places Maguire could have been. And, frankly, should have been.