Jack Grealish has been OVERTAKEN by Jeremy Doku at Man City, claims CHRIS SUTTON as he says the England star will be ‘a little bit worried’ after the Belgian ‘nailed down’ his spot under Pep Guardiola on It’s All Kicking Off

• Chris Sutton believes Jack Grealish could be ‘worried’ about his Man City future 
• He claimed the England star had been ‘overtaken’ by winger Jeremy Doku 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Jack Grealish has been ‘overtaken’ by Man City team-mate Jeremy Doku, claims Chris Sutton – as he said the England star could be ‘a little bit worried’ about his future at the club on It’s All Kicking Off.

Grealish was one of the stars of City’s treble-winning season but since the Belgium international Doku arrived from Rennes in the summer for £55million, he has looked out of favour under Pep Guardiola.

Doku has started five of City’s nine games – and grabbed an assist in Man City’s 2-1 win over Brighton. Grealish, meanwhile, has started just twice – having quickly adapted to life at the Etihad – and Sutton believes his form is bad news for the former Aston Villa forward.

Speaking on Mail Sport podcast It’s All Kicking off, he said he was impressed by how Doku ‘destroyed James Milner’ and caused the Seagulls problems with his direct running, while Grealish ‘played safe’ after coming on.

‘I tell you a dilemma Pep does have. After watching Doku at the weekend, I think Grealish is in a bit of a bother in terms of holding down [a place],’ Sutton said. 

Manchester City star Jack Grealish (left, with Guardiola) has been ‘overtaken’ by team-mate Jeremy Doku (right), claims Chris Sutton 

Sutton feels Grealish may be ‘a bit worried’ after Doku ‘nailed down’ the left winger spot

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‘Where I think [Grealish] was first choice last season, I think Doku has overtaken him. Now I’m not saying he’s going to struggle to get a game – and they’re playing so many games – but I think Doku has that position on the left-hand side for Manchester City nailed down in front of Grealish.

‘I really think that’s one to watch. I do think at the weekend Doka was getting the ball more and direct running. He destroyed James Milner in the first half. But when Grealish came on he was a bit safe. He must be a little bit worried, Jack.’

Grealish played 50 times last season as City claimed almost every trophy available to them – scoring five times and starting the Champions League final that the team won 1-0 against Inter Milan.

The 28-year-old gained publicity for his passionate celebration during Manchester City’s treble-winning celebrations, being involved in boozy nights out with his team-mates as he was seen drinking on the streets of Manchester and in Ibiza over the summer.

Grealish ‘played safe’ when he came on vs Brighton, said Sutton, while Doku took players on

Even though Grealish has struggled for game time at City, he was still called up by Gareth Southgate for recent internationals against Australia and Italy – starting the game against the Socceroos before coming on in a brief stint against Italy. 

While Sutton did not criticise Guardiola for dropping Grealish for Doku, Dominic King – who was stepping in for Ian Ladyman this week – said the Spanish boss made the wrong decision to let Cole Palmer join rivals Chelsea for £42m.

King said: ‘For the life of me, I cannot understand why Manchester City sold him in the summer. 

‘I thought it was a huge moment given everything he’d done with England Under-21s in the summer, how he played in the European Super Cup, the talk that’s been around him for a number of years in terms of through the academy and what-not. 

Dominic King believes Pep Guardiola made a mistake letting Cole Palmer join Chelsea 

‘I’m not comparing him to (Phil) Foden but I just think it’s important in this day and age for clubs if they’ve got somebody, a local lad who is clearly of Premier League class, to give them every opportunity to succeed at their home team.’

Co-host Chris Sutton sees things differently, though, countering that Guardiola must have had a good reason to let him leave, while also insisting the Spaniard cannot be questioned given everything he has achieved in the game.  

‘From what I’ve seen of him, and what I saw of him at Manchester City, I get what you’re saying. But then you’re sorting of questioning Pep’s decision-making there, aren’t you?, Sutton responded.

‘He must be deficient with something in Pep’s mind. Whether it’s fitting into the style of play, whatever it is. But on the face of things, I do understand what you’re saying.’ 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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