If any performance was going to earn you your first start for your country, it was one that Jack Grealish turned in against Liverpool last week.Aston Villa demolished the Reds in a 7-2 thrashing, a performance where Grealish scored twice and earnt three assists. The Villans have come alive this season and look much improved from the side that almost got relegated last season. Grealish was the star for them in 2019/20, scoring eight goals, and now he looks set to offer England a different option too.He won the Man of the Match award as English swept aside Wales 3-0 on Thursday evening, assisting Dominic Calvert-Lewin with an inch-perfect ball into the penalty area for the first goal of the night.The attacking midfielder was an effervescent ball of energy and turned in what was arguably a 10/10 display. There really was no faulting the way Grealish played. Up to now, the 25-year-old had earnt just one cap for his country and judging by his treatment from Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, it's hardly surprising.
Despite his well-rounded display, Grealish only received a smattering of praise from Southgate."Very pleased with him. I'm sure he'll be delighted to have had his first start as well. He's a different type," the head coach explained.
In a remarkable turn of events, Southgate then chose to praise Chelsea's Mason Mount for his contribution off the bench, adding:
"Mount, coming on in that position, again I thought had an excellent impact on the game. He presses so well and moves the ball so quickly. He had a real impact on setting up two or three chances and had an immediate impact on the game."
Now, this isn't the first time this has happened and fans were quick to point out that there was an agenda against Grealish.
Twitter user @BrunsypPB said: "What is his agenda against Grealish? If it wasn't for public opinion Southgate wouldn't have him in the squad? He's easily England's best-attacking midfielder at the moment, been consistently good for 18 months now."
@duncanh1664 commented: "Southgate clearly doesn’t like Grealish the man. After leaving him out of the last squad he told reporters he wouldn’t discuss him & even after MOTM performance he talks him down & changes the subject. Probably only played him in the hope he’d fail #agenda."
Meanwhile, @villa_pogue stated: "There's an agenda here that his London media cronies are allowing him to consistently get away with. Anyone with a vague understanding of Association football knows Mount is nowhere near Grealish's quality. That's not dissing Mount, it's fact."
Another user, @freddy_kaho, simply exclaimed that Southgate was "a certified fraud."
Wow, this really doesn't make for pretty reading. The England manager only brought Grealish into the squad as an injury replacement last time out and revealed 18 months ago when he was still playing in the Championship that the talented midfielder wouldn't be called up until he was playing in the Premier League.
Southgate, of course, then went onto hand Leeds' Kalvin Phillips a call-up for the national side before Grealish had even set foot at St George's Park.
His treatment of the Villa star has been baffling, ignoring Grealish's impressive debut last month and focusing on Conor Coady and Mount again instead.
An agenda, or just a difference in opinion? Who knows.