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Jack Grealish last found the back of the net for Manchester City on December 16, 2023, in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Etihad. Since then, the £100m winger has gone over 1,547 minutes of football without scoring—a big change from the player who shone in City’s historic treble-winning season.
While Grealish has been key to City’s success since joining from Aston Villa in 2021, injuries and a lack of rhythm have made it tough for him to get back to his best.
During the 2022/23 season, Grealish hit the high point of his City career, playing a crucial role in their Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble. He played in 50 matches, really standing out in important wins against title rivals Arsenal and throughout City’s European journey.
The winger started every game in the Champions League knockout stages and played the full 90 minutes in both the final against Inter Milan and the FA Cup final against Manchester United. But now, that peak feels like a distant memory.
Injuries have thrown a wrench in Grealish’s momentum, especially in the 2023/24 season, where groin and hamstring issues kept him out for 15 games. These absences not only took away his playing time but also messed with his consistency.
Even when he was fit, Grealish struggled to make an impact, completing the full 90 minutes in just two league matches last season. The once-dynamic dribbler who wowed fans now seemed a bit out of sync in a City team fighting for dominance.
This season, despite making 10 league appearances, Grealish has played a full match only once, contributing to a winless streak that finally ended with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
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Even at his best, Grealish wasn’t really known for scoring a ton of goals. During his time at Aston Villa, his career-high for Premier League goals was eight in the 2019/20 season. Across over 180 Premier League appearances, he’s scored just 26 goals, averaging 0.14 goals per game—a pretty modest return for a player of his caliber.
Instead, Grealish shines in carrying the ball, creating space, and linking up play. His standout performances for Villa—especially in their fight for Premier League survival—showed his knack for controlling games, even if he didn’t score much.
Despite his struggles, Grealish has shown flashes of his old self when playing in a central midfield role. For England, under interim boss Lee Carsley, Grealish thrived in a free-roaming position, scoring twice in three games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Pep Guardiola noticed and recently used Grealish in a similar role against Nottingham Forest, where his ability to control the tempo helped City snag their first win in seven matches.
“Our football is always built from the midfield,” Guardiola said after the game. “Jack gave us that pace—he controlled the game, broke the lines, and showed his quality. He has the skills to play in holding midfield, and I’m so happy for him.”
Grealish’s shift to a deeper role might just be the key to reviving his career at Manchester City. While goals may still be hard to come by, his creativity and ability to influence games from midfield could keep him as a valuable asset for Guardiola’s squad.
After a year without scoring, Grealish’s career feels a bit stuck. But with a fresh purpose in a new role, the signs of a comeback are there—whether or not it comes with goals.
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