Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says he would be ‘very surprised’ if Jack Grealish isn’t named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s rescheduled European Championship.
Grealish was unavailable for the recent World Cup qualifying wins over San Marino, Albania, and Poland, but Smith doesn’t think that will have a bearing on the playmaker’s chances of making Southgate’s final 23-man squad.
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“Fortunately I don’t have that decision to make, I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t make the Euros [squad],” Smith told reporters on Friday.
“I think when people come to choose the players of the season, he will be amongst the names that are mentioned, so yeah that would surprise me.”
Grealish is set to return to action for Villa’s home outing with Fulham on Sunday after six weeks out.
The skipper is fit after being sidelined since February with a shin problem and Villa have only won one of their six games without him.
On Grealish, Smith said: “He trained all week, he’s only had a few sessions but seems fit enough and has certainly put himself up for selection.
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“The performances over the last six weeks haven’t been what they were previously.
“If anyone loses a player of the calibre of Jack you are going to struggle a bit. It will be a big boost for everyone to have Jack back.
“Any team would be different with Jack in it, just like Tottenham would be different without Harry Kane.
“That’s how football is sometimes, you have players who are exceptional talents and Jack is one of them. We have certainly missed him when he’s not been there.”
Former Manchester City winger Sinclair compared Grealish to England legend Paul Gascoigne and said Southgate could regret it if he leaves him out amid recent reports suggesting either Jadon Sancho or him could miss out.
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“You’ve got to have principles and certain standards playing for England. I understand all that, but there’s mavericks in the team who are not quite as squeaky clean as some other players,” Sinclair told talkSPORT Breakfast.
“It’s about winning games and winning tournaments, for me, it’s man management and making sure those players, when they are away with England, behave themselves.
“Grealish is a no-brainer. If you are leaving Gazza out the team, you might as well get prepared for the sack because you are leaving the best player in England out the team.
“It’s almost the same with Grealish because when he’s played this season, everyone is on the same page. He has been absolutely superb. He has to go.
“If you start relying on Mason Mount and (Phil) Foden, who are very young and quite inexperienced at international level and they don’t come alive at the tournament then straight away you job is under pressure.”
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