Grealish's England Hopes? Everton Loanee Providing Tuchel a Headache
Jack Grealish 'has helped us an awful lot' - Everton Boss
Match official the official had only just blown the full-time whistle to confirm Everton's last-gasp win over the Eagles when the club changed the bio on their X account.
Below the team's iconic badge were displayed a short phrase: Grealish for England.
It is almost a year since the attacking midfielder last sported a England shirt in a three-one international win over the Finns in Helsinki under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.
It will be some time before the 30-year-old receives the chance to play for his country again after being omitted from the England boss's most recent squad for a exhibition match against Wales next Thursday, followed by a qualifying match in Latvia on 14 October.
But one thing remains crystal clear: the playmaker is doing all in his power to play his way into the manager's plans for next summer's World Cup.
After providing several key passes in his initial half-dozen top-flight appearances for the Blues, Grealish netted the 93rd-minute winner to secure his team's comeback victory after the Palace keeper had saved the striker from point-blank range.
Timed at 92 minutes and 21 seconds, it was Everton's most recent home Premier League winning goal since spring 2022 against the Magpies - deep into added time.
"Do you know what's mad?" remarked Grealish, in an interview with Sky Sports after the game.
"The last games we've played here we've been tied and I've thought in the 85th minute, 'come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'.
"I thought it against Aston Villa, and I failed to find the net. I said it against West Ham and I couldn't convert.
"This time, I actually said the same thing again and I scored. I sprinted towards where my parents were, so it was nice."
- Grealish 93rd-minute winner for the Toffees ends Palace unbeaten run
- 'Exceeding expectations' - the manager praises unpredictable the attacker after win
'Not playing for England isn't deep'
The weekend's game was the midfielder's last for a few weeks - having only recently to string together six straight league starts for the initial occasion in nearly two and a half years.
He will be ineligible to face his owning team Manchester City when his loan side return to action after the international break on October 18.
It's over eight months before the kickoff of the World Cup. Will Grealish be on board the national team flight?
"You know what?" he told BBC Radio 5 Live after the Palace game, "it's not as serious as everyone says."
"At the end of the day, you aspire to play for the England side but people are performing strongly in my role. I'm also performing also, but the players picked last month did really well in the recent matches so that's fine with me.
"The coach makes the choices and I completely understand that."
He added: "I'm focused on playing for this club because they are the ones that put their trust in me and had confidence in me, so I'm thoroughly loving it here."
However, ex-international the legendary forward told the media that Grealish's form for the Merseysiders will be creating the England boss a "selection problem".
"The only thing for him is keep doing what he is doing, obviously scoring a winner today," commented Rooney, who scored over fifty strikes in 120 appearances for England.
"I believe if he maintains that he will be there or thereabouts come the summer.
"If Jack plays, his ability will shine through, so I'm sure he'll be giving the England manager a headache."
'In the right place'
The attacker featured in seven Premier League matches last season - he's started six since moving to Goodison Park in the summer.
The England manager maintains the door remains open for Grealish, who has 39 caps and four goals for his country, in terms of the global competition next season.
"There's invariably a route back into the camp," the England boss stated on Friday.
"Jack knows that I recognize how impactful he is for the team and that he is on his way to be the top form of himself."
In Grealish's seven league games since arriving on a temporary deal from City, he has logged significant game time, had multiple contributions, set up numerous opportunities and had 10 shots.
"Jack's done great again," remarked Everton boss the coach after his team's initial victory since 30 August.
"I have been urging him to score more. He is always in the right place.
"Iliman Ndiaye's cross was incredible and the forward should have scored. But Jack is in and around to score the goal."
The manager revealed the player had missed training during the week because of a slight issue, noting: "He's needed to miss the odd day of training but he is doing a lot of good things."
The midfielder was not the only player excluded from Tuchel's England squad who managed to score this round of fixtures.
Marcus Rashford netted again for the Spanish giants - although they were defeated 4-1 at their opponents - while Mason Mount scored in Manchester United 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.