It has been a long time coming for Jack Grealish.
In a few days’ time, the Aston Villa captain will turn 25 years old, but only now has he earned his first call up to the England senior squad.
It feels very much like a significant point in Grealish’s career.
He is making the transition from promising youngster to proven, experienced professional. He is on the verge of a potential big-money transfer to a top club. And he has now made an international breakthrough.
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Whether England boss Gareth Southgate will choose to start the Aston Villa man in the upcoming Nations League fixtures – against Iceland and Denmark – remains to be seen, though his form in the Premier League certainly makes him deserving of at least a place in the squad.
With Marcus Rashford ruled out through injury, too, this is a real opportunity for Grealish to prove himself.
If Southgate is looking for a little more dynamism, a different option from the bench perhaps, there are few better candidates.
Much will depend on the system England line up in. If it is a 4-3-3, Grealish is more than capable of operating on the left of a front three, or deeper, in a more creative, midfield role.
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Southgate has hinted at a possible switch to a back three, too, in which case Grealish may be given more creative freedom, perhaps playing behind the striker or in a more fluid midfield.
There is no doubt that his adaptability will be useful. It means he is more likely to be involved in the upcoming games in some capacity, whether as a substitute or a starter.
And he is unlikely to be overly fussy about where he plays. Grealish will simply hope to grasp the opportunity, which until Rashford’s injury update seemed like it might be further delayed.
It will be interesting to see whether the 24-year-old can take his form for Villa onto the international stage.
Why should you sign up?
In our daily Aston Villa bulletin, we’ll be bringing you the latest breaking news, transfer features and comment pieces, as well as the key talking points for fans.
How do you sign up?
It’s easy and only takes seconds.
Simply type your email address into the box at the top of this article and hit sign up.
And that’s it, you’re all set. You can also sign up here.
If you decide later that you no longer wish to receive the emails, simply follow the unsubscribe link in one of the newsletters – but we don’t think you’ll want to.
And what’s more, it’s absolutely free!
You can also get all the latest updates by following us on social media here Facebook and Twitter.
We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region. Google Play Store and App Store
He is the leader, the focal point at club level, and that won’t be the case in an England team full of individual talent.
But he shouldn’t be overawed. He has made a habit of overcoming the odds, so starting his England career relatively late and establishing himself as a regular would hardly be a surprise, particularly for Villa fans.
This is a challenge, though, and one that should prepare him well if he does move to a club like Manchester United in the future.
If Grealish wants to play on his favoured left side, he will be competing with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Rashford.
Strong performances in his first few caps, then, will be essential.
Southgate is not short of options and Grealish must prove himself worthy of regular selection, particularly having been in the relative obscurity of the Championship for three years before his impressive return to prominence in 2019/20.
The former Under-21 international has plenty of work to do to become as popular and revered for England as he is for Villa. But he has already proven himself more than capable.
If he builds on his form from the end of last season, the next few weeks could be defining ones for Grealish.
