LONDON: Jack Grealish is a headache for Gareth Southgate. He is an effective substitute but wasted a rare chance in the starting line-up as England failed to score from open play for the third successive game in their 0:0 Nations League draw with Italy.

Grealish transferred from Aston Villa to Manchester City for a British record £100m last year because he wanted to win big prizes and establish himself with England. He achieved the first ambition as City held off Liverpool’s challenge to win the Premier League. Making his mark with England remains a problem.

Southgate’s preference for two holding midfielders means England rely heavily on wingers to stay wide to create openings for Harry Kane. Grealish always looks unhappy stuck out on the wing. His first instinct is always to cut inside. This can work when England have Ben Chilwell fit to race forward from leftback but the Chelsea man is injury-prone.

Grealish wasted two good opportunities to cross when well-placed in potentially dangerous attacks. He ended up with only a yellow card. The 26-year-old was probably frustrated that his rare start was in an experimental line-up. England have gone three games without a win and are bottom of the group ahead of tomorrow’s [TUE] home return against Hungary.

England’s one success was the Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. He made three good first-half saves to maintain pressure on Jordan Pickford, Southgate’s favoured No1.  Pickford had a difficult season with struggling Everton and was at fault for Jonas Hofmann’s goal in the 1:1 draw with Germany.

Only 3,000 fans, mostly children under 14, were at Molineux after UEFA punished England for chaos at the Euro 2020 final. A capacity 31,000 will hope for better at the Wolves’ ground tomorrow. Grealish will hope to start again but Southgate is growing impatient.

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