Man City: Jack Grealish should 'take a leaf out of Raheem Sterling's book,' insists Paul Merson

Jack Grealish needs time to find his feet at Manchester City but he should look to Raheem Sterling in how to adapt to life under Pep Guardiola, believes Paul Merson.

Grealish has found it difficult to replicate his best form since swapping Aston Villa for Man City in a £100million British transfer record deal last summer.  

Six months into life in Manchester, Grealish has found himself scrutinised but former Arsenal midfielder Merson has no doubts the 26-year-old will come good in time. 

Jack Grealish is still finding his feet at Manchester City following his £100m Aston Villa move

Paul Merson has urged Grealish to follow the example of his team-mate Raheem Sterling

‘Grealish is a top player, he hasn’t become a bad player overnight,’ Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column.

‘If you can only drive an automatic car and then you get in a manual and struggle, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver, it means you can’t do what’s required of you.

‘At the moment, Grealish is finding it hard to do what’s required, he’s chasing things and you can see he’s desperately trying to produce something to convince everyone he’s a decent player. He is a decent player, he’s just got to keep it simple, and it will come.’

Grealish has gone from the focal point at Villa, a player who was allowed to roam and perform off the cuff, to a player that needs to maintain very specific standards set by boss Pep Guardiola.

Merson (left, pictured in 2017) is convinced Grealish will thrive if he keeps his game simple

He has managed just three goals to his name from 23 appearances and appeared lost as a central attacker in the 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Guardiola described it as Grealish’s ‘best game’ and said the ex-Villa man was ‘exceptional’ but it is taking time for the England international to fully embed himself in this system.

Merson is convinced that Grealish can do worse than take a leaf from the book of Sterling, who has faced his own adversity under Guardiola.

Earlier this season Sterling found himself in and out of the side and looked to be considering his future.  

‘Raheem Sterling has learned to keep it simple,’ Merson added. ‘How many times have we seen him arrive at the back post and tap the ball in from a few yards? People say “Sterling couldn’t miss”, but it’s not like he was pushing defenders out of the way to score, there is an art to getting in the right place.

‘Sterling took time to work that out but now he knows, and that is what Grealish has to do.’ 

 The England international has managed just three goals in 23 appearances for Man City so far