Was it really less than a week ago that Jack Grealish bragged around Wembley on his debut in England?
Was it really less than a week ago that he sat in the bowels of this stadium talking about his exhilaration at wearing the national shirt after waiting so long on home soil?
Was it really less than a week ago he talked about the joyful legacy of Paul Gascoigne and how he would love, just like Gazza, to just make people happy with his football?
Was it really less than a week ago when he was the man of the game and his virtuoso talent finally made itself known on the international stage?
On the Wednesday after Thursday, as the substitutes warmed up and prepared to take their place beneath England of ten, Grealish sat in the stands, disappearing into his padded jacket, pushing social distancing to new limits in this vast arena.
(Image: Jed Leicester for The FA / REX / Shutterstock)
With Harry Maguire sent off but Denmark preparing for a narrow win, the stage was certainly set for Grealish.
Don’t forget that his last two appearances were a starring role for the country and a great feat for the club in the 7-2 demolition of the Premier League champions.
But no, Southgate kept him out in the cold.
First things first, the player who many considered to be the Mason Mount, which began just before Grealish, spoke well.
If Southgate believes in you, he believes in you and he clearly believes in Mount.
(Image: Jed Leicester for The FA / REX / Shutterstock)
There is no doubt that having gone through the St. George’s Park system, unlike Grealish, will help.
There is no doubt that if, unlike Grealish, you’ve been widely seen as sparkling clean, it helps.
Even when Mount broke Covid-19 guidelines in the early days of the pandemic, there should be a kickabout with some friends.
But favoritism or not, Mount was good against the Danes.
He was astute, astute, hit his husband more than once, forced Kasper Schmeichel to make a sensational parade, and worked and tirelessly pushed across the line.
(Image: POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
He bonded promisingly with great friend Declan Rice and teammate the formidable but ultimately sacked Reece James.
Anything Southgate would have wanted from Mount.
But he doesn’t have the insolence of Grealish. He doesn’t have Grealish’s vision. He doesn’t have the unpredictability of Grealish.
Again, it shouldn’t be a straightforward choice, but finding a place for Mount and not Grealish tells you from a careful trainer.
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It tells you about a trainer who values the reliable about the mercury.
That’s all well and good and didn’t serve Southgate too badly in his days as England coach.
But this is an English team that have been functional, if in a good way.
This is an English team that needs a creative X factor to get one step better.
And the way the Chelsea man acquitted himself here, you can’t help but believe that Grealish is more likely than Mount.
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