He won't go to 2026 World Cup — Rooney claims England playmaker will be dropped

Wayne Rooney believes Jack Grealish has no path back into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, suggesting the player’s international career under the current manager may be over.

Rooney made the comments after watching England secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Serbia, thanks to goals from Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka.

Grealish has been notably excluded from the squad since Tuchel’s arrival, despite enjoying a resurgence this season on loan at Everton from Manchester City, contributing six goal involvements in 10 games for David Moyes’ side.

Rooney was unequivocal about the 30-year-old’s chances: “Jack Grealish may as well book his holiday for the summer now because he’s not getting in the squad,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"To think Anthony Gordon dropped out and he still doesn’t get called into it, so I think Thomas Tuchel is quite set.”

The former Three Lions captain added that the break should have been used to rest key players:

“I think this international break was the perfect opportunity just to say to Harry Kane, ‘Go and have a week’s holiday’. He doesn’t need to be there.”

Grealish appears to be effectively behind Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze in the pecking order.