Jack Grealish has stormed into the Premier League spotlight with a history-making performance at Everton, delivering a resounding statement to England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. On Saturday, August 30, 2025, the 29-year-old midfielder, on loan from Manchester City, became the first Toffee to record assists in his first three consecutive Premier League matches, capping a 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers with two assists and earning praise from Everton boss David Moyes, who declared, “He will be there.” Grealish’s dazzling displays at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium have reignited his England ambitions, challenging Tuchel’s decision to omit him from the upcoming qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.
Grealish’s impact at Molineux was transformative, as he orchestrated Everton’s attack with flair and precision. Within seven minutes, he nodded a pinpoint cross from Vitaliy Mykolenko to set up Beto’s opening header, igniting the match. His second assist came via a slick exchange with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, culminating in a perfectly weighted pass for Dewsbury-Hall’s match-winning strike. “It’s nothing to do with me, let me tell you, it’s all to do with Jack and his own mentality to be better,” Moyes said, marveling at Grealish’s 60 touches, 91.4% passing accuracy, and seven free-kicks won. The performance followed his historic debut on August 24, where he provided both assists in a 2-0 win over Brighton, driving past defenders to set up Iliman Ndiaye and assisting James Garner’s 25-yard screamer. “Brilliant, brilliant day,” Grealish said after the Brighton match. “We were saying before the game that we wanted to put on a show for the fans. For the club itself, it was a big day coming into the new stadium.”
Grealish’s move to Everton, finalized on August 12, was a calculated gamble to revive his career after a frustrating spell at Manchester City, where he started just seven league games last season under Pep Guardiola. The £100 million man, who won three Premier League titles and a Champions League with City, sought regular minutes to reclaim his England spot, last earned in October 2024. “I felt really good. It was nice,” Grealish reflected, describing the freedom he’s found at Everton. “Out there I could drift, I could do what I want more or less and play with a bit more freedom, take more risks.” His six chance creations, four assists, and 13 possession wins in three games, per Opta, outshine his City output, where he managed only two assists in his final two seasons. Moyes, a long-time admirer, sees Grealish as the “elite player” to match Everton’s new £802 million stadium, noting, “He probably needs a bit of love and attention. He needs the games as well.”
Tuchel, who praised Grealish’s “huge impact” at Everton but opted for Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze for the September qualifiers, has left the door ajar. “There’s no doubt I am a big fan of Jack Grealish,” Tuchel said, acknowledging his “courage” and “character to be the glue in a team.” Yet, the England boss cited “fierce competition” for omitting Grealish, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, in favor of a tighter 24-man squad. Former striker Troy Deeney questioned the inclusion of Rashford, who has played 102 fewer minutes than Grealish at Barcelona, while Louis Saha backed Grealish for a World Cup spot. “He will be there,” Moyes insisted, echoing the sentiment that Grealish’s form—described by Gary Neville as “a level in quality above anything that they’ve got by a million miles”—makes him undeniable.
Grealish’s maverick style, reminiscent of England legends Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney, has made him a fan favorite, with supporters chanting his name as he leaped into the stands post-match. Wearing Everton’s No. 18 shirt, previously donned by Rooney and Gascoigne, he’s channeling their attacking verve. “If you look back and think of Gazza at Italia 90… you look at Wayne Rooney in Euro 2004 – I think that was where he set his marker,” Grealish said, inspired by their legacy. With Bukayo Saka sidelined by injury and James Maddison out with an ACL tear, Grealish’s case strengthens. His telepathic link with Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall has Everton dreaming of European qualification, while his World Cup aspirations burn bright. As Tuchel watches from afar, Grealish’s historic start is a clarion call: the Toffees’ talisman is ready to shine for England.
Leave a Reply