‘It really helps me’: Jack Grealish thanks Lee Carsley for England selection

Jack Grealish expressed appreciation for the confidence that Lee Carsley has shown in him, despite not being included in the England squad for Euro 2024. He also suggested that the interim head coach might have trouble sleeping as he works to determine how to integrate all the skilled players available to him into a cohesive team.

Grealish played in England’s matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland last month, taking on a No 10 position as Carsley kicked off his time as coach with impressive wins. The Manchester City star found the back of the net in Dublin during England's 2-0 win. However, he is anticipated to compete for a spot in the lineup against Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer, who missed last month’s games, for the upcoming match against Greece at Wembley on Thursday night.

Grealish shared that witnessing his partner, Sasha Attwood, welcome their first child, a baby girl named Mila Rose, at the end of September was “the best moment of my life.” When he was questioned about who between him and Carsley might face more sleepless nights in the coming weeks, he jokingly remarked, “I believe he’ll have many more due to the players he has to choose from.”

Grealish mentioned that he couldn't recall the last time he started back-to-back games for England. He also expressed his appreciation for Carsley after not being included in Gareth Southgate's squad for the European Championship.

"I wasn't entirely on board with that decision, as it was solely about me," he shared with BBC 5 Live regarding his absence over the summer. "I felt that I didn't have the strongest season. If you look at other players in my position—like Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, and Jarrod Bowen—they've all been scoring plenty of goals, and I completely acknowledge that. However, I believe my contributions to the team extend well beyond just scoring."

I want to express my gratitude to the manager for believing in me and providing me with this opportunity. It truly means a great deal to me. Throughout my career, I've noticed that when I work with managers who place their trust in me and communicate openly, as he has done during these last two training sessions, it really boosts my confidence. It makes me feel valued, and I have nothing but positive things to say about him since I've joined the team.

Harry Kane's availability for the match against Greece, who have also won their first two Nations League games, is uncertain as the England captain worked out individually indoors on Tuesday. He was taken off during Bayern Munich's recent draw with Eintracht Frankfurt due to a groin issue, but tests revealed that there is no serious injury.

Kane shared some positive updates with Cleats Club, the new social media platform he's backing and promoting. "The scan results are all clear, which is great news. I'm officially with the England team now. It's a brief training camp with two quick matches ahead. I'll be taking it one day at a time, gauging how my body feels, and we'll see how it goes from there. This time of year is hectic, so it's natural to experience a few minor injuries. That's why focusing on recovery is crucial."

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins is set to take the field if Kane is unavailable, and Carsley may consider Dominic Solanke as an option now that the striker has been brought back into the squad for the first time in seven years. The Tottenham player expressed his excitement about the opportunity, wanting to make up for the time he missed since contributing to England's victory in the Under-20 World Cup back in 2017.

"Each person's path is unique," he mentioned. "I was part of the England program from a young age, going through all the youth levels. We had some fantastic teams and secured several trophies, which created wonderful memories. Now, I hope we can achieve the same success at the senior level. It would be great to bring home some trophies. That's the next goal for our country."