Alsharq Tribune- the Sun
JACK GREALISH is at the centre of a club-v-country row over his England call-up. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is fuming with the FA and interim manager Lee Carsley for picking the £100million ace — who has not played since October 20 due to a groin injury.
Three Lions sources insist they were in regular contact with City medics and were assured he was available for the Nations League double-header. Carsley said Grealish, who misses City’s tea-time trip to Brighton today, returned to training this week — but Guardiola hit back: “It’s his decision. “It’s a question for the England manager, I’m not involved. They can select who they want. "All I’d say is the day after Wolves, he was injured — 17 days out and Friday was the first training with the team.
“He trained 20 minutes. This is the reality. He was in the gym a few minutes, yes, the last two days. But for my team he’s not fit — he cannot play. “They can select who they want. Jack trained and believes he can help, so I’m not the guy to say you cannot go. “All I can say is that over two weeks he didn’t train but the people from England believe he can help. So go.” Guardiola was angry when John Stones played in the March internationals despite fitness fears.
Now he is on a collision course with the FA again ahead of next week’s Greece and Republic of Ireland clashes. Pep is also unimpressed Grealish, 29, wants to go.
He said: “Have I spoken to him? Yes. He said, ‘I want to go to the national team’. Am I surprised? No.” Asked if it could help the forward get fit for a busy couple of months, Guardiola said: “Maybe. The manager from the UK will know better. “Our medical department haven’t told me they spoke with them.” But FA sources last night insisted there had been dialogue with City about Grealish’s availability before Thursday’s squad announcement. Guardiola also indicated he will not be signing a new deal in the international break. The last two times he has extended his stay, he has done so in November. But Pep said: “I said many times, I won’t talk about it. When it happens, it will happen.”
