Jack Grealish Backed for England Recall by Three Lions Legend After Man City Flop’s Flying Start to Life on Loan at Everton

Michael Owen Says Grealish Has “Found Himself Again” Under Moyes as 2026 World Cup Hopes Reignite

There’s something poetic about the sight of Jack Grealish gliding down the wing again, hair bouncing, socks rolled low, smile wide. After two turbulent years of frustration and injury setbacks at Manchester City, the £100 million man seems reborn on Merseyside — and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Former England striker Michael Owen has thrown his support behind Grealish’s return to international duty, calling his move to Everton “exactly what he needed.” The 30-year-old’s loan spell under David Moyes has quickly turned from a gamble into one of the Premier League’s most captivating redemption stories — one that could yet take him all the way back into Thomas Tuchel’s England plans.

Grealish Revitalised Under Moyes

Everton v Crystal Palace – Premier League

It’s been a long road back to form for Jack Grealish, a player once hailed as England’s great entertainer but later cast aside as a luxury in a system built on precision and pressing. His time at Manchester City was, by any measure, mixed — flashes of brilliance buried under tactical rigidity and long spells on the bench.

But at Everton, everything has changed. Freed from the suffocating expectations of Pep Guardiola’s structured system, Grealish has rediscovered the chaos and creativity that made him a star at Aston Villa. He’s no longer a cog in a machine — he’s the spark that ignites the engine.

The numbers are staggering: four assists in his first two starts, a dramatic 92nd-minute winner against Crystal Palace, and an unbeaten start to life at Everton’s gleaming new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

When Grealish scored that winner against Palace — a curling right-foot finish that sent the stadium into delirium — you could almost feel the burden lift off his shoulders. This wasn’t just another goal; it was a statement of intent.

“I feel free again,” he told reporters post-match. “Moyesy has just told me to play, to be myself, to enjoy football again. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

A New Star for the Blue Half of Merseyside

Everton fans have taken to Grealish quicker than even the most optimistic could have imagined. For a fan base long starved of glamour and excitement, the sight of the former City man tearing down the flank with swagger and intent feels like a breath of fresh air.

Grealish has become the symbol of Everton’s renaissance, a team that many expected to struggle after another difficult season but which now finds itself punching above its weight in the race for Europe.

At 30, Grealish may be entering the second act of his career — and it’s proving to be his most compelling yet. His chemistry with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and new signing Pedro Neto has been electric, while Moyes’ structured yet attack-minded system allows him the freedom he was never afforded at the Etihad.

“Jack brings energy, unpredictability, and that bit of arrogance you need at the top level,” Moyes said recently. “He’s been brilliant for the dressing room — the lads love him. He’s the kind of player who makes everyone else believe.”

And it’s not just talk. Everton’s four wins and two draws in their last six matches coincide perfectly with Grealish’s arrival. His presence has transformed the mood, the football, and even the atmosphere at the club’s new riverside arena — a stadium already being dubbed “The Fortress.”

England Snub: Will Tuchel Come Knocking?

Everton v Crystal Palace – Premier League

For all his domestic heroics, Grealish’s England exile remains a sore point. Omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad despite his early-season form, the winger’s absence raised eyebrows across the media.

Tuchel’s reasoning, according to insiders, was purely tactical — a preference for more direct, high-pressing wingers like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze. But Grealish’s performances at Everton have reignited the debate about England’s creative balance.

The player himself has kept his counsel, choosing humility over frustration. “The manager’s been honest with me,” he said in a recent interview. “He wants to see consistency, to see me playing week in, week out. I’ve told him that’s my plan. I want to get back to my best and earn it.”

That kind of attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed — especially among former England greats.

Owen: “Grealish Deserves Another Chance”

Enter Michael Owen, who knows a thing or two about making comebacks in English football. The former Ballon d’Or winner believes Grealish’s revival is not just a feel-good story — it’s a legitimate case for international recall.

“It’s been a great move for Jack,” Owen told 247Bet. “He’s unique — a player who carries the ball, wins fouls, and changes games. I’ve always said his style didn’t suit City, but at Everton, he’s thriving. He looks happy again. I’d have him back in the England team tomorrow.”

Owen went on to explain how Grealish’s style complements England’s set-piece strengths — an often-overlooked aspect of tournament football.

“He wins you territory. He gets fouled in dangerous areas. For a team with big lads like Kane, Stones, and Rice attacking the ball, that’s gold dust. Jack draws defenders, opens space, and brings that fear factor. That’s what England have missed.”

It’s a sentiment shared by many supporters who remember Grealish’s impact at Euro 2020 — when he came off the bench to inspire England’s best attacking spells.

The 2026 World Cup Dream: Can He Make It Back?

Everton v Crystal Palace – Premier League

With the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico fast approaching, Grealish’s resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time. If he continues his current trajectory, it’s hard to see how Tuchel could ignore him for long.

England’s left-wing options are strong but not untouchable. Saka remains the first-choice right-sided threat, while Foden and Marcus Rashford have rotated on the left. Yet, Grealish offers something different — control, rhythm, and the ability to dictate the tempo in tight games.

The idea of Grealish playing off Harry Kane, with Bellingham pulling strings behind, is one that will have England fans daydreaming all over again.

And if there’s one thing international football rewards, it’s form. With Everton flying high and Grealish in full confidence, the door back to the Three Lions could open sooner than expected.

Redemption and Reinvention

For all the criticism he’s faced — the price tag, the parties, the questions about attitude — Grealish has always been a player of heart and resilience. His story has never been about failure, but about finding the right fit.

At Manchester City, he learned discipline and patience under Guardiola. At Everton, he’s rediscovered joy and expression under Moyes. Together, those experiences have made him a more complete player — one who understands when to improvise and when to obey the system.

“People forget how mentally tough you have to be,” said Grealish recently. “Everyone has an opinion. But I just kept my head down, kept training, kept believing. That’s football — one day you’re a flop, the next you’re back on top.”

That humility, mixed with his trademark swagger, is exactly what England might need next summer — a player who’s been through the storm and come out stronger.

What Comes Next

For now, Grealish is focused purely on Everton. His loan deal runs until the end of the season, but if he continues this level of performance, calls for a permanent move will grow louder — both from fans and, potentially, from the club itself.

Whether he returns to City or finds a new home elsewhere, one thing is certain: Jack Grealish is back. The smile, the spark, the swagger — it’s all there again.

And if Michael Owen is right, it’s only a matter of time before we see that famous low-sock No.10 shirt dancing down the touchline for England once more.

Final Word

Jack Grealish’s story is far from over. Once written off as a wasted talent at City, he’s now proving that sometimes, the right environment can turn everything around.

Under David Moyes, he’s not just playing football — he’s enjoying it. And for a player like Grealish, that’s when the magic happens.

A year from now, as the world’s eyes turn to North America for the 2026 World Cup, don’t be surprised if England’s most mercurial talent is right there in the mix — socks down, head up, ready to write his redemption chapter on the biggest stage of all.