England manager Gareth Southgate singled out Jack Grealish for praise following England’s impressive 4-0 victory away to Hungary.
The only player named in Southgate’s starting XI on Thursday night who didn’t start in the Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy, Grealish once again showed his technical ability on the ball as well as his hard work off it.
A match that was marred with the racist abuse aimed at England’s Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham by Hungarian fans, the Three Lions put in a professional performance in difficult circumstances.
Signed from Aston Villa this summer for £100million, Grealish played a key role in breaking the deadlock when his pass on the edge of the box found the overlapping Mason Mount – who crossed first time for Sterling to finish.
He went on to provide two superb chances for Harry Kane to finish, but the striker was denied both times by goalkeeper Peter Gulasci.
Grealish eventually got an assist when he took on two defenders inside the Hungary box and played a perfectly-weighted pass to Declan Rice, who finished first time from outside the box.
Speaking after the match, Southgate lavished praise upon the City attacker for his excellent decision making throughout.
“Yes, absolutely,” Southgate said when asked if he was happy with Grealish’s ability to create chances.
“But also the angles of his pressing and the way he chased the ball down because that helped us to turn the ball over high up the pitch.
“We know that when he is in possession of the ball he has got that ability to find a pass when he is on the run and take people out of the game individually – so I thought his performance was very, very good.”
Grealish has started all three Premier League games for City this season, grabbing his first goal for the club in the 5-0 hammering of Norwich City.
