England Call for Grealish? Toffees Borrowed Star Giving England Manager a Headache
Jack Grealish 'has helped us an awful lot' - David Moyes
Referee the official had only just sounded the full-time whistle to seal the Toffees' last-gasp win over the Eagles when the club updated the profile on their X account.
Underneath the team's iconic badge were displayed a short phrase: Grealish for England.
It is almost a year since Jack Grealish last sported a Three Lions shirt in a three-one international win over Finland in Helsinki under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.
It will be some time before the 30-year-old gets the opportunity to play for his national team again after being left out from the England boss's latest squad for a friendly against the Welsh next midweek, followed by a qualifying match in Latvia on 14 October.
However, one aspect remains perfectly evident: the playmaker is doing all in his power to force his way into the manager's plans for next summer's World Cup.
Having delivered several key passes in his initial half-dozen Premier League appearances for Everton, Grealish netted the 93rd-minute winner to secure his team's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved Beto from point-blank range.
Recorded at the 92nd minute, it was Everton's latest home Premier League winning goal since March 2022 against the Magpies - deep into added time.
"Can you believe this?" said the star, speaking to broadcasters after the match.
"Our recent matches we've played here we've been drawing and I've thought in the closing stages, 'come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'.
"I said it against Villa, and I failed to find the net. I said it against the Hammers and I couldn't convert.
"This time, I really thought the exact words again and I scored. I ran to where my parents were, so it was special."
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'Not playing for England isn't deep'
Sunday's game was the midfielder's last for a few weeks - having just managed to put together six successive Premier League starts for the initial occasion in almost 30 months.
He will be not allowed to face his parent club Manchester City when Everton resume play after the fixture pause on 18 October.
It's 249 days before the kickoff of the global tournament. Will Grealish be on board the national team flight?
"Honestly," he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Palace game, "it's not as deep as people make out."
"Ultimately, you aspire to play for the England side but people are doing well in my position. I'm also performing also, but the people picked previously did exceptionally in the recent matches so that's fine with me.
"That's the manager's decision and I completely understand that."
He continued: "My priority is playing for Everton because they are the ones that put their trust in me and had confidence in me, so I'm thoroughly loving it here."
However, ex-international Wayne Rooney informed BBC Sport that the player's performances for the Merseysiders will be creating Tuchel a "headache".
"The only thing for him is continue performing what he is achieving, obviously getting a winner today," said Rooney, who scored over fifty strikes in 120 appearances for England.
"I'm sure if he maintains that he will be in contention come the summer.
"If Jack plays, his ability will show, so I'm sure he'll be posing the England manager a headache."
'Johnny-on-the-spot'
Jack Grealish featured in seven Premier League games last season - he's begun half a dozen since joining Goodison Park in the summer.
Tuchel maintains the door remains open for the playmaker, who has 39 caps and four goals for his nation, in terms of the global competition next summer.
"There is always a way back into the camp," the England boss said on Friday.
"Jack knows that I see how impactful he is for Everton and that he is on his way to be the top form of himself."
In Grealish's seven Premier League games since joining on a season-long loan from City, he has played significant game time, had five goal involvements, created numerous opportunities and had 10 shots.
"Jack's done great again," said manager David Moyes after his team's initial victory since late August.
"I have been urging him to score more. He is Johnny-on-the-spot.
"The winger's cross was incredible and Beto should have buried it. But Jack is in and around to score the goal."
Moyes disclosed the player had missed training during the week because of a minor injury, adding: "He's needed to miss the occasional session of training but he is doing a many good things."
The midfielder was not the only player excluded from Tuchel's national squad who managed to score this weekend.
Marcus Rashford netted again for Barcelona - although they were defeated four-one at Sevilla - while Mason Mount got a goal in United's victory over Sunderland on the weekend.