Jack Grealish honours his late brother with a heartfelt goal in Manchester City’s victory

Jack Grealish, a standout player for Manchester City, commemorated the emotional milestone of scoring his long-awaited goal during Wednesday’s 2-0 victory against Leicester. He dedicated this moment to his late brother.

Grealish found the back of the net from close range just two minutes into the match at the Etihad Stadium, marking his first Premier League goal in a span of 16 months.

The 29-year-old winger for England celebrated his return to the starting lineup in the league for the first time since December, helping City reclaim fourth position as they strive for Champions League qualification amidst a challenging season.

This date also marked the 25th anniversary of the passing of his younger brother Keelan, who tragically died at just nine months old.

“This day is always tough for the family, but I was glad to score,” Grealish shared.

“My mum and dad were here. This date is always challenging for us. So being able to score and win was fantastic.”

This season, Grealish has faced difficulties securing consistent playing time due to fitness concerns and form, finding himself behind Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, and Savinho in the pecking order.

However, manager Pep Guardiola has praised Grealish for his resilience during these tough times.

“Jack is a remarkable person with a generous spirit,” Guardiola noted.

“I didn’t know about his situation. I can’t fathom how difficult it has been, but being alongside his mum, dad, sister, and all his family during this time is significant.

“He scored a goal and put in a solid performance. I’m thrilled for him, especially knowing how challenging it can be not to play regularly.“

Omar Marmoush added the second goal in the 29th minute, and City managed to control the remainder of the match, pushing Leicester, who are now second from the bottom, even closer to relegation as they remain 12 points adrift of safety.

“It wasn’t easy facing 10 players defending in their box, and we missed opportunities to score a third to make things more comfortable,” Guardiola remarked.

“However, we didn’t concede any chances until late on, and I’m pleased with a solid performance.“

Guardiola also provided an update regarding Erling Haaland’s recovery after the striker sustained an ankle injury during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth.

The Norwegian has since received specialised care from Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona.

“He has assessed him, and we anticipate a recovery period of five to six weeks,” Guardiola confirmed.