🔗 Share this article

Referee Michael Salisbury had barely blown the final whistle to confirm Everton's last-gasp win over the Eagles when the club changed the bio on their X account.

Underneath the team's iconic badge were displayed a short phrase: Grealish for England.

It is almost a year since the attacking midfielder last sported a England shirt in a three-one Nations League win over Finland in the Finnish capital under interim manager the former coach.

And it will be some time before the veteran player receives the chance to represent his national team again after being omitted from the England boss's latest squad for a friendly against the Welsh next Thursday, followed by a World Cup qualifier in the Baltic nation on 14 October.

But one thing remains crystal clear: the playmaker is doing everything he can to play his way into the manager's plans for the upcoming World Cup.

After providing four assists in his first six top-flight appearances for the Blues, the midfielder netted the late winner to secure his side's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had denied Beto from point-blank range.

Recorded at the 92nd minute, it was Everton's latest home Premier League winning goal since spring 2022 against Newcastle - 98 minutes and 20 seconds.

"Do you know what's mad?" remarked the star, in an interview with Sky Sports after the game.

"The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I've thought in the closing stages, 'come on Jack, go and score. Think about scoring a late goal'.

"I thought it against Aston Villa, and I didn't score. I said it against West Ham and I couldn't convert.

"Today, I really thought the exact words again and I scored. I sprinted towards where my parents were, so it was special."

• Late Grealish strike for the Toffees ends Crystal Palace unbeaten run
• 'Exceeding expectations' - Moyes praises unpredictable the attacker after win

'England omission not a big deal'

Sunday's game was the midfielder's last for a few weeks - having just managed to put together six straight league starts for the initial occasion in almost 30 months.

He will be not allowed to face his owning team Manchester City when his loan side resume play after the international break on October 18.

It's 249 days before the kickoff of the global tournament. Will Grealish be on board the national team flight?

"You know what?" he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Crystal Palace game, "it's not as deep as everyone says."

"Ultimately, you aspire to play for the national team but people are performing strongly in my position. I'm also performing also, but the players selected last month did really well in the two games so I accept that with me.

"That's the manager's decision and I completely understand that."

He added: "I'm focused on playing for this club because that's who put their trust in me and believed in me, so I'm thoroughly loving it here."

But, ex-international Wayne Rooney informed BBC Sport that the player's performances for Everton will be giving the England boss a "headache".

"The only thing for him is continue performing what he is doing, clearly scoring a goal today," said the pundit, who netted over fifty strikes in more than a hundred games for the national team.

"I believe if he keeps doing that he will be in contention come the tournament.

"If Jack plays, his ability will shine through, so I'm sure he'll be giving the England manager a dilemma."

'Johnny-on-the-spot'

The England manager insists the opportunity exists for Grealish, who has numerous international appearances and four goals for his nation, in terms of the global competition next season.

"There's invariably a route back into the squad," the national team coach said on Friday.

"Jack knows that I see how impactful he is for the team and that he is on his way to be the best version of himself."

In Grealish's several league games since joining on a season-long loan from Manchester City, he has played significant game time, had multiple contributions, created 17 chances and had 10 shots.

"He's been excellent again," said Everton boss David Moyes after his team's first win since 30 August.

"I've been urging him to get goals. He is always in the right place.

"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was fantastic and Beto should have scored. But Grealish is positioned well to get the goal."

The manager revealed the player had skipped training during the week because of a minor injury, adding: "He's needed to miss the odd day of training but he is doing a lot of good things."

The midfielder was not the sole individual left out from the manager's England squad who managed to find the net this weekend.

Marcus Rashford scored once more for Barcelona - although they were beaten four-one at Sevilla - while Mason Mount got a goal in United's victory over the Black Cats on Saturday.