Newcastle were second best in every department against Aston Villa on Monday, and in Jack Grealish, the home side had something Steve Bruce’s team simply do not possess.
Having missed a couple of games through injury, Toon fans would have hoped he would take a game or two to rediscover the form that saw him mentioned for a potential England call-up.
They were sadly mistaken, as the midfielder controlled the game from the first whistle to the last, and looked head and shoulders above any other player on the pitch.
He has an arrogant, cocky air to him – which makes opposition fans dislike him – but, in fairness to him, he backs that up with performances, and he has earned the right to believe in his ability.
Newcastle need a player like Grealish in their side
Newcastle simply do not have a Jack Grealish in their squad. They do not have someone who can stamp their authority on a game, or take it by the scruff of the neck, and dictate play in the way he does.
Even with everyone available, we would not have a player in his mould. Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff are just not that type of midfielder, and although Jonjo Shelvey has a range of passing, he does not have the work-rate to be a Grealish.
Not since Yohan Cabaye have Newcastle had a player capable of doing those things – and he left in January 2014.
So for five years we have played without a match-winning midfielder, and it is something we desperately need.
Steve Bruce is reportedly after a winger or forward, and a midfielder in the January transfer window, and I would suggest he finds a player in the mould of a Jack Grealish or James Maddison, regardless of how much he would cost.
Not having someone like that has seen us lacking in the middle of the park, and on Monday, Grealish looked every inch of a player who deserves to be in the England side for the Euros next summer.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
