Grealish the star as Mount also makes Ultimate Belgium-England XI
While it's difficult to take too much away from a friendly, and particularly one in which England were so untroubled, the 3-0 victory over Ireland did prove that England can afford to be more attack-minded in their approach.
In the UEFA Nations League to date this season Gareth Southgate has opted for a conservative midfield pairing along with three centre-backs and faced criticism for what has been deemed a negative approach. While the England boss could point to the impressive result his side earned in the reverse fixture against Belgium at Wembley as vindication for his tactics to now, that was somewhat undone by a disappointing defeat to Denmark just days later.
It's a system that has heralded just one goal from open play across four Nations League matches, and even that was a heavily deflected strike against the Belgians in a game the visitors had largely controlled to that point.
While the quality of the opposition is certainly pertinent, the midfield pairing of Mason Mount and Harry Winks certainly did a better job of linking with the attack against Ireland. It was also a selection that allowed Southgate to field arguably the most in-form Englishman so far this season in Jack Grealish, disproving the notion that he and Mount can only ever vie for one place in the starting XI.
Given England came away with the victory against Roberto Martinez's men at Wembley, and the significant increase in quality that they will face, it would be a surprise if Southgate didn't revert to a pairing of Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice. However, it's a partnership that has never really convinced, even if the Three Lions did earn all three points this time last month.
While Belgium are one of the favourites - along with England - to go on to win the European championships next summer, theirs isn't a squad that the Three Lions should necessarily fear. With both teams set to line up in a similar formation on Sunday, it's hard to make a case that Belgium would dominate a combined XI between the two. In fact, based on this season's ratings across competitive league, European and international matches, England actually win out seven to Belgium's four.
Both arguably lack great quality at the back, though Belgium undoubtedly boast a safer pair of hands in the returning Thibaut Courtois. The match up between Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku is a strong one, but it's Kevin De Bruyne who is so often the difference for both club and country. A player who can make things happen in the final third, but England have one of their own right now in Jack Grealish.
That's not to say the two are remotely similar, but both have the ability to unlock defences having ranked first and second in key passes from open play in the Premier League since the start of last season. While De Bruyne's tally (121) is well clear of Grealish (92), the Villa man is a long way clear of third placed Mohamed Salah and even further ahead of his closest English competition across Europe's top five leagues in Jadon Sancho (63).
The Villa captain has taken his game up another level this season, with a direct hand in nine league goals across seven appearances and as such he is actually the star of our aforementioned combined XI between Belgium and England.
Grealish's score of 7.94 this season is clear of Kane (7.70), Sterling (7.26) and even De Bruyne (7.42), while it's worth noting that Mount also makes the side (6.94). Having proven they can operate in the same lineup and even link up very well between one another, it must be time for Southgate to unleash a more ambitious approach, if not against Belgium then certainly Iceland.
After all, Jack Grealish is still yet to make a competitive start for England despite a strong argument that, on current form, he should perhaps be the first name on the teamsheet.
