Jack Grealish reveals reliving Home Alone 2 movie in New York helped heal England’s heartbreak

The Manchester City winger flew to New York after a brief trip to Dubai for some sunshine following a 2-1 loss to France in the quarter-finals in Qatar.

He stayed with his girlfriend Sasha Attwood at the Plaza Hotel, touring Home Alone 2: Lost in New York to recreate the 1992 sequel to the popular Christmas film.

Speaking after returning to train with his national team at St George’s Park, Grealish revealed how living as eight-year-old Macaulay Culkin had helped heal his injuries.

“I stayed in the (same) hotel! You might get crazy room service, like 16 scoops of ice cream! Like what he has in the movie and I have an addictive personality,” the 27-year-old began to humorously explain.

“I love this movie, man. Someone told me about it (the tour), so we drove around Central Park. I’ve watched it so many times. It’s every Christmas, don’t is not it, so four or five times a year.

“I didn’t meet the Crazy Pigeon Woman, but I never realized how much stuff was filmed there in Central Park. I felt like a good little tourist.

“I was in the back of the car and every once in a while someone would say, ‘I swear it’s Jack Grealish’. I was like, “Dude! Fast! Speed ​​up!” I liked it. I like Christmas and that.

“My mum always made Christmas so special to me growing up, so I always loved Christmas and always wanted to go to New York during Christmas time, but obviously because of football, we didn’t I never got to do it. It was like a little to-do list moment. I loved it.”

As always, Grealish communicated with confidence and honesty ahead of two important European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

The winger is in competition with club team-mate Phil Foden to start both matches but is increasingly ahead of him under Pep Guardiola after a spell of impressive form.

The break clearly helped Grealish but, initially, his comeback didn’t go as planned: “I think the manager gave us eight or nine days off. I actually didn’t run much or anything because I just felt like I needed a little break.

“Then I went back to training on Wednesday and we were playing against Liverpool on Thursday in the [Carabao] Cup. I thought, “There’s no way I’m involved.

“Then in the fucking 70th minute he (Guardiola) said to me, ‘Jack, you keep going.’ just didn’t think (that I would be involved).

Guardiola throwing Grealish into the back ultimately worked as he contributed with goals and assists against Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

He added that it was the best moment of his club career: “I was talking to Rio Ferdinand and he asked me are you doing something different? I’m not.

“I really can’t put my finger on what it is. I feel like I’m at my best, especially since moving to City. I think it’s trust, really. Right now I feel a bit like when I was at Aston Villa.

Having ticked the Home Alone tour off his bucket list, it’s time to do the same with England at the upcoming 2024 European Championships in Germany.

“Definitely. That’s what we all want to do. We’ve come close so many times. I feel like the next one could really be ours. Everyone will be at their peak.

“Actually, I feel old right now but when I think about it, I’ll only be 28 at the Euros. It’s no secret that we all want to win a tournament – and I think that it is there to be done.