Was it really less than a week ago when Jack Grealish swaggered around Wembley on his full England debut?
Was it really less than a week ago when he sat in the bowels of this stadium and spoke about his exhilaration at wearing the national jersey on home soil after such a long wait?
Was it really less than a week ago when he talked about the joyous legacy of Paul Gascoigne and how he would love, just as Gazza did, to simply make the people happy with his football?
Was it really less than a week ago when he was man of the match, his virtuoso talent finally announcing itself on the international stage?
On the Wednesday after the Thursday, as the substitutes warmed up and prepared to take their place amongst ten-man England, Grealish sat in the stands, disappearing into his padded jacket, taking social distancing in this vast arena to new limits.
With Harry Maguire sent off but Denmark prepared just to see out a narrow win, the stage was surely made for Grealish.
Don’t forget, his last two performances had been a starring one for country and, for club, a sublime one in a 7-2 demolition of the Premier League champions.
But no, Southgate kept him in the cold.
First things first, the player who many seen as the one starting directly ahead of Grealish, Mason Mount, acquitted himself well.
If Southgate believes in you, he believes in you and he clearly believes in Mount.
There is no doubt it does help if, unlike Grealish, you have come through the St George’s Park system.
There is no doubt it does help if, unlike Grealish, you have generally been seen as squeaky clean.
Even when Mount broke Covid-19 guidelines in the early pandemic days, it was to have a kickabout with some pals.
But favouritism or not, Mount was good against the Danes.
He was sharp, incisive, beat his man more than once, forced Kasper Schmeichel into a sensational save and worked and pressed tirelessly across the line.
He linked up promisingly with his great friend Declan Rice and his club team-mate, the impressive, but ultimately dismissed, Reece James.
Everything that Southgate would have wanted Mount to do.
But he does not have the impudence of Grealish. He does not have the vision of Grealish. He does not have the unpredictability of Grealish.
Again, it should not have to be a straight choice, but finding a place for Mount and not for Grealish tells you of a cautious coach.
It tells you of a coach who values the dependable above the mercurial.
Which is all well and good and has not served Southgate too badly in his time as England manager.
But this is an England team that has been functional, albeit in a good way.
This is an England team that needs a creative X-factor to take it up a notch.
And as well as the Chelsea man acquitted himself here, you cannot help but think Grealish is more likely than Mount to provide it.
