MASON GREENWOOD is being backed to win a stunning England recall by his Marseille team-mates.
USA international Timothy Weah, whose AC Milan legend father George had stints in the Prem with Chelsea and Man City, helped Marseille come back to beat Newcastle 2-1 on Tuesday.
Greenwood, playing his first competitive game against English opposition since being shunned by Manchester United 16 months ago, was in explosive form against the Mags.
The 24-year-old forward has fired 33 goals in 53 games since his arrival in southern France for £26.6m after his 17-year Old Trafford spell ended.
Despite those stunning numbers, the controversy surrounding charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against him, which were dropped, still make the forward a no-go for Thomas Tuchel and the Football Association.
Greenwood, who recently snubbed a switch to Jamaica, refuses to give up on his dream of adding to the sole Three Lions cap he won against Iceland in September 2020 and going to the World Cup.
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And 25-year-old fellow winger Weah, on a season-long loan from Juventus, exclusively told SunSport he wants to help the attacker realise what seems an impossible ambition.
He said: “When I speak about Mason it’s a special feeling because it’s very rare in a lifetime that you get to share the pitch with such an amazing player and amazing character.
“We’ve grown closer since I’ve joined the team and been here.
“Hopefully he gets that call-up soon. I’m super proud of him.
“He’s having an amazing season and hopefully I can help him to reach those heights that he’s aiming for.”
Weah provided the assist for two-goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s matchwinner against the Mags.
Greenwood England return not ruled out by Tuchel
By Charlie Wyett
PUBLICLY, England manager Thomas Tuchel is not ruling out the chances of Mason Greenwood making a return to the senior squad.
But realistically, there is currently no chance of Greenwood playing for the Three Lions again and adding to his solitary cap.
Whatever he does for Marseille over the next few months, he will not be making a late dash for next summer’s World Cup squad, even though he is the country’s second best forward behind Harry Kane.
Greenwood’s only England appearance came away to Iceland in September 2020 and along with Phil Foden, was sent home by manager Gareth Southgate after breaching quarantine rules in Reykjavik by inviting two women to the team hotel.
Separately, he was charged was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022 and even though the charges were dropped, he has remained frozen out of international football despite returning to action with Getafe and now Marseille.
Greenwood had decided to play for Jamaica but he delivered a u-turn in September which looked set to open the door for an England return.
England manager Tuchel said: “I have not spoken to him until now. I have not spoken to him or his camp.
“My understanding was that he tries to play for Jamaica so we didn’t give it another thought.
“He was not in the mix at the moment and he is not in our thoughts for our team. I don’t rule anything out but he is no priority at the moment.”
Maybe, after the World Cup and looking forward to Euro 2028, which will see England as co-hosts, Greenwood has a chance of a return. But certainly not now.
That took the veteran former Arsenal and Chelsea forward’s tally to eight in 16 games since his return to the Stade Velodrome this summer following a stint in Saudi Arabia and moved him level with French icon Thierry Henry’s total of 59 European goals.
Newcastle are definitely sick of the sight of him. The Geordie Slayer has now been involved in 11 goals against them (eight strikes and three assists) in all competitions throughout his long career, making them outright his most favourite English opposition.
Aubameyang, who will also be looking to put Liverpool to the sword when they visit in the Champions League on January 21, is defying the years in southern France.
Though his boss Roberto De Zerbi revealed he has a big problem with his in-form Gabonese golden oldie.
He said: “Aubameyang only has one flaw: he’s 36. I’d like him to play for another ten years because he’s a truly great champion.”
Fan favourite Greenwood thriving in Marseille
By Gary Stonehouse in Marseille
WITH each attack mounted against the Toon, the raucous Marseille crowd demanded the ball go out right to the speedster who is Mason Greenwood.
And they let their players know about it in no uncertain terms whenever they failed to do just that.
Facing English opposition for the first time, Greenwood tried to take the game by the scruff off the neck after his team fell behind early doors.
He was electric in the opening period, getting at Tino Livramento and Dan Burn whenever he could.
And they never knew which way he was going, with the confident attacker equally comfortable cutting in with his left or using his right.
Greenwood laid on three big chances for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that all went begging.
One from a cut inside and the latter getting out wide and crossing.
But there were no signs of aggressiveness, petulance or frustration even when all his ammunition was being wasted early doors.
He still demanded the ball and made himself available at every opportunity.
Then, after the Gabon striker made amends with a quickfire double, we saw a flash of his shooting abilities after he switched flanks to the left.
On it like a flash, he pounced to pull the trigger with Toon on the ropes, but Nick Pope’s arm stopped his vicious strike from making it three.
Greenwood received a raucous reception when being replaced late on after tiring towards the closing stages.
And he wore the smile of a jubilant winner as he danced in front of the Ultras while arm-in-arm with his team-mates after the final whistle.
Read the full article here
