Grealish's England Hopes? Everton Loanee Providing Tuchel a Headache

Referee Michael Salisbury had barely blown the final whistle to seal the Toffees' last-gasp win over Crystal Palace when the club changed the bio on their X account.

Below the team's iconic badge were displayed a short phrase: Grealish Deserves England Call.

It's nearly a year since the attacking midfielder last sported a England shirt in a 3-1 international win over the Finns in Helsinki under interim manager Lee Carsley.

And it will be some time before the veteran player receives the opportunity to play for his national team again after being left out from Thomas Tuchel's most recent squad for a exhibition match against the Welsh next midweek, followed by a World Cup qualifier in the Baltic nation on the 14th of October.

However, one aspect remains crystal clear: the playmaker is doing everything he can to play his way into the manager's plans for next summer's World Cup.

After providing several key passes in his initial half-dozen top-flight appearances for the Blues, the midfielder netted the late winner to secure his side's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved the striker from point-blank range.

Recorded at the 92nd minute, it was Everton's latest home Premier League winning goal since March 2022 against the Magpies - 98 minutes and 20 seconds.

"Do you know what's mad?" said the star, speaking to Sky Sports after the match.

"The last games we've played here we've been tied and I've said to myself in the closing stages, 'push yourself, go and score. Think about scoring a late goal'.

"I said it against Villa, and I didn't score. I said it against the Hammers and I didn't score.

"Today, I really thought the same thing again and I scored. I ran to where my parents were, so it was nice."

• Late Grealish strike for the Toffees ends Crystal Palace unbeaten run
• 'Better than I thought' - Moyes lauds maverick Grealish after win

'Not playing for England isn't deep'

The weekend's game was the midfielder's last for three weeks - having just managed to string together six successive Premier League starts for the initial occasion in almost 30 months.

He is not allowed to face his parent club Manchester City when Everton return to action after the international break on 18 October.

There are over eight months before the start of the global tournament. Is Grealish likely to be on board the England plane?

"You know what?" he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Crystal Palace game, "I don't think as deep as everyone says."

"At the end of the day, you aspire to play for the national team but people are performing strongly in my role. I'm doing well also, but the people selected last month did really well in the two games so that's fine with me.

"The coach makes the choices and I completely understand that."

He continued: "My priority is playing for this club because that's who showed faith in me and believed in me, so I'm thoroughly loving it here."

However, ex-international the legendary forward informed the media that the player's performances for the Merseysiders will be giving Tuchel a "headache".

"The only thing for him is keep doing what he is doing, obviously scoring a winner today," said the pundit, who netted over fifty strikes in 120 appearances for the national team.

"I'm sure if he maintains that he will be there or thereabouts come the tournament.

"If Jack plays, his talent will show, so I'm confident he'll be posing the England manager a dilemma."

'In the right place'

Tuchel insists the door remains open for Grealish, who has numerous international appearances and several strikes for his country, in terms of the World Cup next summer.

"There is always a way back into the squad," the England boss said on Friday.

"Jack knows that I see how impactful he is for the team and that he is on his way to be the best version of himself."

During his several league games since arriving on a season-long loan from City, he has played 556 minutes, had multiple contributions, set up 17 chances and had 10 shots.

"He's been excellent again," said manager David Moyes after his side's first win since late August.

"I've been pushing him to get goals. He is always in the right place.

"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was incredible and Beto should have scored. But Grealish is positioned well to score the goal."

The manager disclosed Grealish had skipped training during the week because of a minor injury, adding: "He has had to miss the occasional session of training but he is doing a many good things."

The midfielder was not the only player excluded from the manager's national squad who succeeded to score this round of fixtures.

The forward scored once more for Barcelona - although they were beaten 4-1 at Sevilla - while the midfielder scored in United's victory over Sunderland on the weekend.