Roy Keane has warned Jack Grealish that he could lose his ‘sharpness’ at Manchester City if he fails to secure a regular role under Pep Guardiola.
After failing to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 in the summer, Grealish was recalled by Lee Carsley for England’s Nations League wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
The 29-year-old produced two impressive performances for the Three Lions but Keane believes the midfielder could struggle to make the next England squad if he is lacking playing time at City.
‘Biggest thing for Jack is, I definitely think he needs to play regularly at Man City and that’s obviously difficult, the challenges there,’ Keane told ITV.
‘I think he needs to be sharp. When he’s not playing regularly he does lose that sharpness very quickly. So it’s key he gets games at City.
‘Usually when you’re doing well at club level, you’re selected for your international team. So your bread and butter is what you do week-in, week-out at club level, particularly for players like Jack.
‘After what’s happened this summer he’s reacted well, scored at the weekend, done well tonight. But looking forward, he has to play a lot more regularly for City.’
Wright, meanwhile, has urged Grealish to recapture the form the showed at Aston Villa, which triggered his £100 million move to City three years ago.
‘He’s trying to be progressive, taking people on, creating things – exactly what you want to see him doing. Getting past people, what we know he’s great at doing,’ Wright said.
‘We haven’t seen so much of it at City but we’ve seen it in the last couple of games for England.
‘And again, it comes down to the opposition but it’s great to see him playing and playing in that style and hopefully it can be enough to force him into his team.
‘I’d like to see him playing like he used to play because if he can get back to that Aston Villa Jack then there’s no way anyone can keep him out of that team.’