England Call for Grealish? Toffees Borrowed Star Giving Tuchel a Headache

Match official Michael Salisbury had only just blown the full-time whistle to confirm Everton's last-gasp win over the Eagles when the club changed the bio on their social media.

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

It is almost a year since the attacking midfielder last wore a Three Lions shirt in a three-one Nations League win over Finland in Helsinki under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.

And it will be some time before the 30-year-old gets the opportunity to represent his country again after being omitted from the England boss's most recent squad for a friendly against the Welsh next midweek, followed by a World Cup qualifier in the Baltic nation on 14 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.

Having delivered four assists in his first six top-flight appearances for Everton, Grealish scored the 93rd-minute winner to seal his team's comeback victory after Dean Henderson had denied the striker from point-blank range.

Timed at 92 minutes and 21 seconds, it was Everton's latest home league winning goal since March 2022 against the Magpies - 98 minutes and 20 seconds.

"Can you believe this?" said Grealish, in an interview with Sky Sports after the game.

"The last games we've played here we've been tied and I've thought in the 85th minute, 'push yourself, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'.

"I thought it against Aston Villa, and I failed to find the net. I said it against the Hammers and I didn't score.

"This time, I really thought the exact words again and I scored. I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was nice."

• Late Grealish strike for Everton ends Crystal Palace unbeaten run
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'Not playing for England isn't deep'

The weekend's game was the midfielder's last for three weeks - having only recently to string together six successive Premier League starts for the first time in almost 30 months.

He will be not allowed to face his parent club City when his loan side resume play after the fixture pause on October 18.

It's 249 days before the kickoff of the global tournament. Is Grealish likely to be on board the national team flight?

"Honestly," he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Crystal Palace game, "it's not as serious as people make out."

"Ultimately, you aspire to play for the national team but others are doing well in my role. I'm doing well also, but the people selected last month did really well in the two games so I accept that with me.

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

He added: "I'm focused on playing for this club because they are the ones that showed faith in me and had confidence in me, so I'm really enjoying it here."

But, ex-international Wayne Rooney informed BBC Sport that the player's performances for Everton will be creating the England boss a "headache".

"The only thing for him is continue performing what he is doing, clearly getting a goal today," commented the pundit, who netted 53 goals in 120 appearances for the national team.

"I'm sure if he maintains that he will be in contention come the tournament.

"Should he feature, his talent will shine through, so I'm confident he'll be posing the England manager a dilemma."

'Johnny-on-the-spot'

Tuchel maintains the door remains open for the playmaker, who has numerous international appearances and several strikes for his country, in terms of the global competition next season.

"There is always a way back into the camp," the England boss said on last week.

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

In Grealish's seven league games since arriving on a season-long loan from City, he has played 556 minutes, had five goal involvements, created 17 chances and had several attempts.

"He's been excellent again," said Everton boss the coach after his side's first win since late August.

"I've been urging him to score more. He is Johnny-on-the-spot.

"The winger's cross was fantastic and the forward should have buried it. But Jack is in and around to get the goal."

Moyes disclosed the player had missed training during the week because of a minor injury, noting: "He has had to miss the occasional session of training but he is doing a lot of good things."

The midfielder was not the sole individual left out from the manager's England squad who succeeded to find the net this weekend.

Marcus Rashford scored once more for the Spanish giants - although they were defeated 4-1 at their opponents - while Mason Mount got a goal in Manchester United victory over Sunderland on Saturday.