One thing I have noticed about Jack a little when he’s with us but more so with England. I don’t think he has to mentality to be a star player in a star team.
He certainly has the ability but I genuinely think he is just happy to be involved at this level and still shocked and overwhelmed that he is.
He seems content to be a cameo player and contribute when he can rather than getting the hump with the limited time he got.
I used to think it about Phil but recently he has expressed disappointment in not playing where as Jack is still doing interviews praising his positional rivals.
His ability can contribute more than Sterling could yet the latter becomes a slapped arse whenever he’s not the main man.
Their mentalities need to switch. Maybe that’s the downside of people a nice guy.
I think it must bother him.
At least at City he knows that if he's fit and training well he'll get his chances, he may not start every match but there are plenty of starts to be had, he just needs to work hard, follow the manager's plan and show his quality whenever he can.
For England - and I hope I'm wrong here - I don't think he'll ever start a meaningful tournament match under Southgate. Every other possible option would have to be injured. Southgate doesn't seem to trust him, but will give him 20 or 30 minutes at the end of a few matches almost just to keep pundits and public off his back for not playing him.
I think Southgate sees him as a luxury player, a maverick who can't be contained by a system and can't be relied on to do what he's told (and I think one of the reasons he joined City was to prove to the England set-up that he can fit into a system and follow instructions).
I find it massively frustrating because England always seem to play with more purpose and cohesion when he's on the pitch.
I get the feeling that Jack knows that any public expression of displeasure at his playing time for England would result in him being painted as a troublemaker, a problem in the dressing room, and someone difficult for the manager to work with.