Pep Guardiola has told Jack Grealish he can still have a starring role at Manchester City this season - if he shows his personality on the pitch more often.

Grealish started at Brisbane Road on Saturday for his first start since the FA Cup third round win over Salford, and showed the hesitation that has kept him out of the team early on against Leyton Orient. After a team display that was too ponderous in the first half, the £100m signing found his groove in the second half and played an important part in both goals that allowed the Premier League champions to complete a comeback that didn't always look likely.

Guardiola was full of praise afterwards for Grealish and Savinho, and was particularly happy with the former given he has played so scarcely this season. If he can bring more performances like he did on Saturday, that will change.

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"Savinho and Jack were outstanding," said Guardiola. "We created the chances when the ball came from there. They played really good

"I'm really pleased with Jack. Jack has this sense of the street - a player of the street. Today most of the players are for the manager, they are so academic. 'You have to do this, you have to do that'.

"Jack is there to fight in the stadiums when people shout and he's a fighter and I'm really pleased because he didn't play the last games, mainly because Savinho on the left side made an incredible connection with Erling but this season is still open and I'm happy for the performance."

Talk of Grealish being a street player will be music to the ears of those who worship at the altar of 'Villa Jack', a mythical creature who supposedly roamed free all over the pitch getting goals and assists for fun. Contrary to those perceptions, Guardiola said he wants more of the player's special ability and personality on the pitch but he hasn't seen enough of it since Grealish was such an important part of the side that won the Treble in 2023.

"I want much more, this is the level I would like to see from Jack but it has not been like that. I like it," he said.

"The club brings new players every season, we don't have the same squad as when I arrived nine years ago or in the Treble or quadruple of 100 points. We have five or six players but that no more than that.

"Players have to understand that no new contract makes a player better, it is the competition in the locker room and on the pitch that makes the players better. They have to feel that they have to fight with Savinho - whose impact this season has been amazing - with Doku, who is an incredibly top player as well. Phil can play there as well.

"That's the point. He accepts the challenge to prove his best and today I saw the glimpse that I'm going to rebel, to show the manager how wrong he is. That's the point. I love that.

"It has to be because in the end it's about performance and delivering assists and delivering goals. Marmoush at the end had four chances. He didn't score but he was there and created chances with his movements. Phil provokes all the time and Kevin scored today. This is what defines us a little bit as a team."