Moyes Encourages Grealish To Follow Lingard's Path For World Cup Selection

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David Moyes sees potential for Jack Grealish to make a return to England's national team if he excels at Everton. Grealish, who recently joined Everton on loan from Manchester City, has had limited appearances in the Premier League over the past two seasons. His lack of game time led to his exclusion from England's Euro 2024 squad, despite a brief recall for Nations League matches last year.

Moyes draws parallels between Grealish and Jesse Lingard, whom he coached at West Ham in 2021. Lingard revitalised his career under Moyes, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in the Premier League. This performance earned Lingard a recall to the England squad, where he made eight more appearances after missing Euro 2020.

Discussing Grealish's potential impact at Everton, Moyes expressed optimism about his versatility. "I think Jack can play in several positions," Moyes stated. He aims to position Grealish creatively to maximise his goal-scoring and assisting capabilities. Moyes is eager to see how Grealish tackles this challenge.

Moyes reminisced about Lingard's unexpected success at West Ham, noting that many doubted Lingard's ability to perform well. However, Lingard exceeded expectations by scoring around 10 goals and earning a spot back in the England team. Moyes hopes Grealish can replicate this success story during this World Cup year.

When asked about Grealish's debut against Leeds United next week, Moyes teased fans by saying: "You will have to turn up on Monday!" Moyes has an impressive record against Leeds, winning seven out of ten Premier League encounters with them.

Moyes' Record Against Leeds

Of all the teams Moyes has faced at least ten times in the Premier League, only against Sunderland does he have a higher win rate than against Leeds. His success rate against Leeds stands at 70%, just behind Sunderland's 71%. This track record adds an interesting dimension to Everton's upcoming match.

Moyes also noted that Grealish is physically ready for the challenge ahead. "It is a World Cup year and he is in good enough shape," said Moyes. He emphasised the importance of giving Grealish enough playing time to prove himself.

The upcoming season presents an opportunity for Grealish to regain his form and potentially secure a place back in England's national team setup. With Moyes' guidance and support, there is hope that Grealish can emulate Lingard’s journey back into international football.