Jack Grealish says he would love to be compared with Paul Gascoigne after impressing on his first start for England on Thursday night.
The Aston Villa playmaker was the standout performer for the Three Lions in their 3-0 win over Wales at Wembley, setting up Dominic Calvert-Lewin for his first goal with a fine cross.
The 25-year-old drew inevitable comparisons with Gascoigne due to his ability to glide past defenders and avoid robust challenges from Wales defenders at Wembley.
Grealish admits that he is too young to be able to remember Gascoigne or 'Gazza' as he was fondly nicknamed, but ranks him as his favourite ever footballer.
"I know about Gazza," he said. "I don't really see myself as him but I would love to be like him, the way that he played football.
"He played with such... I don't know what the right word is - but he played football with such joy. I think everyone who watched him could see that. That is what I want to do.
"One of the biggest compliments for people to say to you is that you make them happy watching football.
"My old coaches have said that to me. I have had a nice message from one of my old coaches already. For them, when they were coaching me at nine and 10, to see me starting for England was massive for them.
"It is massive for me and my family but I am proud for my old coaches.
"I would love to get compared to Gazza. I think he is an absolute icon. Him, along with Wayne Rooney, was probably one of the greatest England players over the last 30 years.
"There have been a load but if they were the top two, Gazza would be my first."
Additional reporting from the Press Association
