Jack Grealish reacts to Marcus Rashford’s message after he’s axed
Jack Grealish was among the players to react to Marcus Rashford’s message on social media after they endured differing England fortunes.
England are set to compete in World Cup qualifiers in the coming weeks, facing Albania and Latvia, and Tuchel named his first squad on Friday (14 March).
Tuchel has already come under scrutiny for omitting Morgan Gibbs-White while selecting Jordan Henderson, a decision that has sparked debate.
The other major news was that Rashford made his return to the England squad after his impressive start at Aston Villa since joining on loan in January, while Grealish was overlooked by the new manager.
The forward hasn’t featured for England since the friendly defeat to Brazil in March 2024, having also missed out on a place in the Euro 2024 squad last summer, and sent a message on social media to react to his call-up.
Marcus Rashford sends determined message after England call-up under Thomas Tuchel
Rashford reacted to his first England call-up in a year by sharing an inspiring message on Instagram: “Never stop believing. I can’t wait to get started.”
Plenty of club and national teammates, including Henderson, Morgan Rogers, and Marco Asensio, showed their support by liking the post.
Jack Grealish also acknowledged Rashford’s selection by liking the post, despite missing out on a place in Tuchel’s first England squad.
Grealish has faced criticism from Manchester City fans for his performances this season, while Rashford has enjoyed a resurgence under Aston Villa boss Unai Emery. Since joining on loan, Rashford is yet to score but has already contributed four assists in nine games, forming an effective partnership with fellow loanee Asensio.
Aston Villa fans are already calling for the club to sign both Rashford and Asensio on permanent deals, given the immediate impact they’ve had.
| England’s fixtures | Date | Venue |
| England vs Albania | 21 March | Wembley Stadium |
| England vs Latvia | 24 March | Wembley Stadium |
Jack Grealish’s Man City struggles continue amid England omission
Football Insider revealed on 25 February that there were concerns over Grealish’s form and that could cost him a place in the England squad as players like Rashford stepped up in that time.
The Man City winger has managed just two goals all season and has not started a Premier League match in 11 consecutive fixtures.
Pep Guardiola will face a decision on Grealish’s future at the club but if the winger hopes to return to the England setup, he may need to follow Rashford’s example and seek a fresh start elsewhere.