Former Aston Villa and England midfielder Gareth Barry remains a popular person for many at the club despite him moving on and now turning out for West Bromwich Albion. In Sky’s last Goals on Sunday programme (6/10) he had a wide ranging chat, covering his time at the club and what it was like wearing our armband for those years – but the topic of Jack Grealish was also covered, and Barry feels quite strongly that given his recent improvement, it’s now time for the 24-year-old to get his England nod.
Via the Birmingham Mail, Barry said that Grealish had always been one to watch at the club as he worked his way through our Academy ranks, and given the uptick in his form and importance in the 2018/19 campaign, he feels he’s doing just fine this year as we continue our adjustment to the Premier League.
“He’s a really exciting player to watch. Having played against him a couple of times in the Championship last year, a real tough player to mark. The one thing he has done has matured, when to release the ball at the right times, over the last couple of seasons that’s where he’s really improved. There are still question marks over him season, can he do it in the Premier League? He’d been a been a younger player in his first experience. A couple of years in the Championship, where he has showed real top class form, and this year there would have been a bit of pressure on him being the local lad and captain, but I think he is thriving on it, and hopefully he can get better and better the more games he plays.”
Barry added about the England question.
“He’s on the level of some of the players that are currently in the squad, so on the basis of that, I think he is good enough to be in the squad. I think when he does pull on the England shirt and get some minutes, again that will give him confidence and he’ll get on another level again. I don’t think it will be long before he gets his opportunity.”
With Jack generally being the ball before the assist, in a manner of speaking, the Norwich clash would’ve done him the world of good and hopefully he’ll get his chance when he gets his goals and assists tally up, as he more than has what it takes.
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