David Meyler believes Jack Grealish and Harry Kane may struggle to play in the same side.
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was an unused substitute in England’s one-nil win against Croatia in Wembley, the first time the country has won their opening game of a European Championship.
England manager Gareth Southgate opted to start Phil Foden and Mason Mount over Grealish, but Meyler believes it was City winger Raheem Sterling that kept the Villa man out of the team.
Speaking on Monday’s OTBAM, Meyler said that Sterling’s pace gives the England team a different option in attack as both Kane and Grealish like to pick up possession in deeper areas.
Meyler said, "He’s a very, very different type of player than Raheem; the reason why Gareth went with Raheem is that he’s so quick and offers that running in behind all the time.
"I know Jack [Grealish] could play as an eight or a ten, but he seems to be deployed more high up on the left. That’s where you see the best of him. Defensively he’s not as acute as some of the other ones; working back defensively, that’s what you get with a player like Jack Grealish."
Meyler added that playing Kane and Grealish in the same team would not be viable, as both players prefer to act as the provider.
“We know Harry Kane drops deep. If Harry Kane drops deep to get on the ball and make things happen, you need players running in behind; it has to be a yo-yo effect."
“I think Grealish is a bit similar to Kane, in that they both want to get on the ball it happens, be the one that’s putting the ball through.
“I just find there’s probably an imbalance if Grealish and Kane play together.
“You could make a case for playing him in midfield, but you’re not going to get the defensive duties out of Jack Grealish; that’s inevitably why Aston Villa moved him forward.”
England's second group game takes place on Friday, as they come up against neighbours Scotland at Wembley.
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