Sherwood tips Jack Grealish for England’s World Cup squad

Matt Stead

Tim Sherwood has tipped Jack Grealish as a potential outsider to make England’s World Cup squad.

Sherwood coached Grealish during his time as Aston Villa manager, and believes that “Jack Grealish can handle the football”. What’s more, “the ball is his friend”.

Grealish pledged his international future to England in September 2015, having also been eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland.

At that stage a call-up did not seem far off, with Grealish playing Premier League football, albeit for the struggling Villans.

But Sherwood feels that the 22-year-old will not be “a million miles away” from Gareth Southgate’s World Cup thoughts. Grealish was number 51 on our England ladder.

“What England are missing is probably creativity and to be comfortable handling the football in the centre of the park,” Sherwood told Sky Sports’ The Debate.

“I think (Adam) Lallana will help with that, I think he’s excellent. But for these young kids coming through who have not yet made an appearance for England they’ll be thinking, ‘You know what, I haven’t got to do too much, if I can get into a first team…’.

“I use someone who I know is way off the scene at the moment, a guy I coached: Jack Grealish. Jack Grealish can handle the football, he knows what it’s like to handle the football, the ball is his friend.

“(You’d think) he’s a millions miles away from that (England team), but perhaps he’s not, perhaps he’s not a millions miles away if he can get himself noticed.”

Jack Grealish plays for Aston Villa in the Championship. And by plays, we mean he has 13 league minutes to his name this season, albeit largely due to injury. He has not started a league game since April. And plays for Aston Villa. In the Championship.