‘It is scary how good he is at 18’ – Jack Grealish impressed by Jude Bellingham

Jack Grealish says England team-mate Jude Bellingham’s ability is “scary” and concedes he was nowhere near the same standard when he was a teenager.

Borussia Dortmund man Bellingham, the youngest member of Gareth Southgate’s squad, excelled in an advanced midfield role during Tuesday’s comfortable 3-0 friendly win over 10-man Ivory Coast.

The impressive 18-year-old caused constant problems for outclassed opposition with driving runs forward and was denied his maiden international goal by a post.

Grealish – the most expensive England player of all time following last summer’s £100million move from Aston Villa to Manchester City – is excited by the talent of his fellow Birmingham native.

“I haven’t actually (played with a teenager who is that good),” Grealish said. “It is scary how good he is at 18.

“He is just so mature. He is built like he is my age at 26. He has so much technical ability and he is mature for his age.

“I can tell you one thing, I was nowhere near as good at 18. I was at Notts County (on loan from Villa) and I was a scrawny little thing as well.

“You see talented 18 or 19-year-old kids but not many are that mature as he is on the pitch. He is so versatile and can play in many different positions on the pitch.

“He can be a six, eight or a 10. It was good to play with him and I think it was my first time playing with him. It is nice to play with a fellow Brummie.”

Bellingham was part of England’s squad for last summer’s European Championship and looks certain to travel to this year’s World Cup after shining on only his fourth international start – his 12th cap overall.

Goals from Ollie Watkins, captain Raheem Sterling and Tyrone Mings did the damage for Southgate’s men in a match which effectively ended as