Ten seconds into the second half at London Stadium yesterday afternoon, Jack Grealish advanced down the left wing and sought to play a one-two with Erling Haaland only for the return pass to break down.
It was a neat example of the intent expected from the England international. And yet on the first outing of a second campaign that will likely define whether last summer’s £100m signing can become a success in sky blue (or fluorescent yellow) it was merely a fleeting glimpse of the directness that had made him dazzle so brightly at Aston Villa.
As most eyes trained on the new focal point of Manchester City’s attack, it was too often easy to forget the presence of the man to his left. If Haaland was entirely convincing in his Premier League debut, Grealish fanned the flames of doubt.
