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Football

11th Apr 2018

Prince William wants Gareth Southgate to take a chance on Jack Grealish

By royal decree

Darragh Murphy

Jack Grealish, take a bow.

Grealish compounded Cardiff City’s miserable week by smashing home a gorgeous volley on Tuesday night with just five minutes remaining.

With just one point from a possible nine this month, Cardiff have dropped out of the automatic promotion places in the Championship thanks to Aston Villa’s dramatic late winner.

And nobody enjoyed the wonder-strike more than the Duke of Cambridge.

Prince William is arguably the most famous Villa supporter on the planet and he was in attendance for Tuesday night’s game at Villa Park, where he raucously celebrated Grealish’s goal alongside former Villan John Carew.

Prior to the game, Prince William paid a visit to the home dressing room for a chat with Grealish and he even backed the 22-year-old to break into Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

“He just came in after the game and spoke to me and said well done,” Grealish said on talkSPORT.

“I told him I picked a good game to pick to score a goal like that.

“I’m still pinching myself. He came in and spoke to us all before the game and he said he wants to see me in the England team soon. So hopefully soon, I can get there.

“I think the World Cup is too soon but you never know what can happen in the future.

“At the moment my only thoughts are Villa. I’ve never wanted something so bad as to get this club back to where it belongs.”