Jack Grealish reveals how Home Alone and ice cream eased his World Cup heartache with England

Before talk turns to one big England game and Manchester City’s pursuit of three trophies, Jack Grealish needs to discuss 16 scoops of ice cream.

The conversation had started in a routine manner. Grealish had been asked how he had banished the disappointment of losing to France in the World Cup quarter-finals and he began to explain how three days in Dubai were followed by five days in New York.

Then, in that way of his, he smiled mischievously and there was a twinkle in his eye. Grealish is always prepared to go off at an unexpected tangent when the mood takes hold, so here he was revealing, with boyish enthusiasm, how a Home Alone experience lifted the post-Qatar gloom.

Christmas isn’t Christmas for Grealish unless he’s watched Home Alone 2: Lost in New York ‘four of five times at least’ and here he was, retracing the footsteps of Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin McAllister, feeling like he was an extra on set.

‘I stayed in the same hotel!’ Grealish said, referring to the iconic Plaza on the corner of Central Park. ‘You could get some mad room service, like 16 scoops of ice cream! It’s what he got in the film! I love that film, man. Someone had told me about it (the tour), so we went round Central Park.

Jack Grealish has revealed how a Home Alone tour helped him get over his World Cup pain

Grealish travelled to New York to revisit the classic locations from the hit 1992 Christmas film

Grealish hoped to put the disappointment of England’s World Cup exit to France behind him

‘I never realised how much stuff had been filmed there… I felt like a right little tourist! I was in the back of the (horse-drawn) carriage; every now and again someone would say, “I swear that’s Jack Grealish!” So I was saying, “Mate! Quick! Speed up!” I loved it, it was a little bucket list moment.’

That ice cream, though, didn’t seem like the best idea 48 hours after he had returned back to Manchester. The domestic season resumed with City hosting Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, a tie that he assumed would take place without his involvement given there hadn’t been too many gym visits.

‘I just felt I needed a little break,’ he explained. ‘I went back into train on the Wednesday and I thought, “There’s no chance I’ll be involved”. Then, in the 70th minute, he (Pep Guardiola) says, “Jack, you’re going on!” I was like, “f***ing hell!” I was blowing out of my a**e!’

Did he not think of asking Guardiola for use of his property in New York rather than a hotel?

‘Nah,’ he replied. ‘I wouldn’t have got my ice cream then, would I?’

Grealish had posted pictures of his visit to New York on his Instagram page, showing fans how he had traced every step of Kevin MacCallister’s journey around the city

Grealish even stayed at the Park Plaza hotel in Manhattan – which is used in the movie – and channelled his inner Kevin by ordering 16 scoops of ice cream

Predictably, his audience is roaring with laughter. There is, however, a serious point he wants to make. This has been a season like no other, with a major tournament shoehorned into a calendar that was already busting at the seams, but fatigue is not something that concerns Grealish.

He has played 45 times since a substitute appearance against Hungary on June 4. If things go as he hopes, there could be another 22 fixtures to be fulfilled — if City go all the way in the FA Cup and Champions League — before this campaign ends on June 19 when England host North Macedonia.

‘I’m not worried,’ he insisted. ‘Playing football matches is the best thing you can do. I want to play in every game possible. When we go back it’s the most important time of the season, this is what it’s about. I feel I’m in my best form, especially since I moved to City.

‘At the moment, I feel like I did when I was at Aston Villa, like one of the main players. It is the fittest I’ve been, especially since I’ve been at Manchester City. It comes down to playing a lot of games on the bounce and playing in big games, making an impact.

While the ice cream didn’t help on his return to Man City, Grealish believes he is now enjoying his best form since joining the club

‘I’m confident at the moment. Am I proud? Definitely! You just feel good in yourself and that’s what I’m doing at the moment. We are winning and I’m getting goals and assists, and helping the team in important matches. It means a lot that (Guardiola) is trusting me in these big games.’

Such form means he is giving Gareth Southgate a huge — and welcome — headache ahead of the trip to Naples, where England’s Euro 2024 quest begins. Qualification, though, is not something Grealish or his team-mates will put too much stock in after the journey they’ve been on.

The ambition, without question, is to win the tournament in Germany. Southgate has stayed on for one last hurrah, adamant this squad can fulfil their potential, and Grealish has a similar mind-set. It was funny when he talked about bucket lists, ice cream and Home Alone but this last point is serious.

‘I was buzzing that Gareth stayed on,’ Grealish said. ‘Ask anyone in that changing room what they think of him: they’d all say the same. He’s a brilliant manager and a brilliant person as well.

‘We’ve come close many times. We are getting better and better. I feel the next one could be our one.’