Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed that one Manchester City player will be particularly eager to impress next season.
After winning the UEFA SuperCup and the FIFA Club World Cup, the Citizens ended up lifting their sixth Premier League title in seven years and becoming the first side to win four in a row.
Across their 38 games, Pep Guardiola’s side won 28, drew seven and lost three, scoring more goals (96) than any other side in the division.
Even though the small matter of the European Championship is still to be completed before the focus can shift to the next Premier League season, Agbonlahor has pinpointed one particular City player he thinks will be desperate to show what he’s capable of in the next campaign.
Gabby Agbonlahor says Jack Grealish will be keen to impress next season
Agbonlahor was not shy when talking on talkSPORT about Jack Grealish’s omission from the final England squad for the Euros, before then making a claim about what the winger’s reaction will be looking ahead to next season.
He said: “There were a lot of reports that the players were shocked.
“What I didn’t understand is if he was going to leave Jack out, why not leave him out of the 32 like he did Rashford? He left him in there for 10 days and then a shock [at the] last second, okay, you’re not in the squad.
“What does Jack offer? He can change the game, he can come on the pitch and make things happen, get into tight spaces.
“What else can he do? If you’re winning in a game, he can come on, win fouls, get the ball up the pitch, he wants to get on the ball, he doesn’t hide. He came on against Bosnia and changed the game, got an assist for Trent [Alexander-Arnold].
“So, for me, I’m very shocked. You speak to Didi Hamann, [Nemanja] Matic, they’re all like ‘Our teams are buzzing that there’s no Jack Grealish in the squad, there’s no Marcus Rashford.’
“The experience that Jack’s got in tournaments, the last two tournaments he’s been a big part player in those tournaments as well. So, for me, it was a shock to the whole country to be honest and I’m sure Jack will speak about it in time.
“But, knowing him, I think that he will be devastated, he’ll support the players and he’ll be looking forward to preseason.
“This season he’ll be going for it because he’s going to be looking at the World Cup and he’s going to be like I’m back in the World Cup squad.”
Grealish must now turn a corner after tough season and England blow
As Agbonlahor mentioned, the news of Grealish’s omission from the final England squad shocked a lot of players in the camp, with one even questioning Southgate about the decision.
After playing a big role in City’s Treble-winning season, the £300k-a-week winger only started 10 of the 20 league games he appeared in this time around.
Once the campaign ended, Grealish admitted in an interview with The Athletic that this season was a “difficult” one for him for many reasons.
Now that the Englishman has been dealt the blow of not being picked to represent his country in the Euros, despite being picked for the initial 33-man squad and then providing an assist in their recent 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia-Herzegovina as Agbonlahor mentioned, this should act as a kick up the backside to get Grealish back on track in terms of his performances on the pitch.