Jack Grealish is happy to play wherever he can get into the England team but would love the No 10 role this summer as he eyes a link-up with Harry Kane.
The Aston Villa skipper was in good form in England’s 1-0 victory over Austria in a friendly on Wednesday and is pushing for a place in the starting lineup when the Three Lions start their campaign against Croatia on 13 June.
There is huge competition for places in the front three and behind Kane, but Grealish’s form this campaign puts him very much in the running for a starting role.
The 25-year-old may be used on the side of a front three, but would love to play behind Kane, especially as he feels he has developed a strong relationship with the Spurs star.
‘I love that No 10 role,’ Grealish told the Guardian. ‘I’ll play anywhere, off the left or right, but that No 10 … I don’t think there is anyone better in the world to play with in front of you than Harry Kane.
‘I feel we have a good connection in training and in games. I just go out there to try to perform and try to create that one piece of magic.’
A notable part of Grealish’s display against Austria was how regularly he was scythed down, although he has been the most fouled player in the Premier League over the last two years.
He is happy to be the one taking the knocks, as long as it helps his team, and says it is an ability encouraged by former Villa coach Martin O’Neill, who was in charge of the club when he was a boy.
‘Of course I take the kicks as a compliment – not so much for Villa because we haven’t got that many good free-kick takers,’ Grealish joked.
‘But we’re blessed with them for England. The standard here when we do free-kicks after training is just unbelievable. So as long as I can keep getting as many fouls in and around the box.
‘Martin O’Neill said to me when I was younger: “You never, ever want to get kicked in your own half because there’s no point, you can’t do anything there. Try and get kicked around the edge of the box or in the box as much as possible.” I was a bit young back then and I thought: “Ah, okay.” But now, obviously, I understand why.
‘I’ll take the kicks to help my team, definitely.’
