Grealish for England? Toffees Loanee Giving Tuchel a Headache
Jack Grealish 'has helped us an awful lot' - Everton Boss
Match official the official had barely blown the full-time whistle to seal the Toffees' dramatic late win over the Eagles when the Merseyside outfit updated the bio on their X account.
Below the club's famous badge appeared a short phrase: Grealish for England.
It's nearly a year since Jack Grealish last wore a England shirt in a three-one Nations League win over Finland in Helsinki under interim manager the former coach.
And it will be while longer before the veteran player receives the chance to play for his national team again after being left out from Thomas Tuchel's latest squad for a exhibition match against the Welsh next Thursday, followed by a World Cup qualifier in Latvia on the 14th of October.
But one thing remains crystal clear: Grealish is doing all in his power to play his way into Tuchel's plans for the upcoming World Cup.
Having delivered four assists in his first six top-flight appearances for the Blues, the midfielder scored the 93rd-minute winner to seal his side's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved the striker from close quarters.
Recorded at the 92nd minute, it was Everton's most recent home Premier League winning goal since spring 2022 against the Magpies - deep into added time.
"Can you believe this?" said the star, speaking to broadcasters after the match.
"The last games we've played here we've been tied and I've thought in the 85th minute, 'come on Jack, go and score. Think about scoring a late goal'.
"I thought it against Villa, and I failed to find the net. I repeated it against the Hammers and I couldn't convert.
"This time, I actually said the same thing again and I put it in. I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was special."
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'England omission not a big deal'
The weekend's game was the midfielder's last for a few weeks - having just managed to string together six successive league starts for the initial occasion in nearly two and a half years.
He will be ineligible to face his owning team City when his loan side resume play after the international break on 18 October.
There are over eight months before the start of the World Cup. Will Grealish be on board the England plane?
"You know what?" he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Palace game, "I don't think as serious as everyone says."
"At the end of the day, you aspire to play for the England side but others are performing strongly in my position. I'm also performing also, but the people selected last month did really well in the two games so that's fine with me.
"That's the manager's decision and I fully respect that."
Grealish added: "My priority is playing for this club because that's who showed faith in me and believed in me, so I'm really enjoying it here."
However, ex-international Wayne Rooney informed the media that the player's performances for the Merseysiders will be creating the England boss a "headache".
"The only thing for him is keep doing what he is doing, clearly getting a goal today," said the pundit, who scored 53 goals in 120 appearances for the national team.
"I believe if he maintains that he will be there or thereabouts come the tournament.
"If Jack plays, his ability will show, so I'm sure he'll be giving the national coach a headache."
'In the right place'
The attacker featured in several Premier League games last season - he's begun half a dozen since moving to Goodison Park in the summer.
The England manager insists the door remains open for the playmaker, who has 39 caps and four goals for his country, in terms of the World Cup next season.
"There is always a route back into the camp," the England boss said on last week.
"Jack knows that I recognize how influential he is for Everton and that he is on his way to be the top form of himself."
In Grealish's seven league games since arriving on a temporary deal from Manchester City, he has logged significant game time, had five goal involvements, created numerous opportunities and had several attempts.
"He's been excellent again," said Everton boss the coach after his team's first win since late August.
"I've been urging him to get goals. He is Johnny-on-the-spot.
"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was fantastic and the forward should have scored. But Jack is in and around to get the goal."
Moyes revealed Grealish had missed training during the week because of a minor injury, noting: "He's needed to miss the odd day of training but he is doing a lot of good things."
Grealish was not the only player excluded from Tuchel's England squad who succeeded to find the net this weekend.
The forward netted again for the Spanish giants - although they were beaten four-one at their opponents - while the midfielder got a goal in United's 2-0 win over the Black Cats on Saturday.