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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11550090/Aston-Villas-Jack-Grealish-could-spark-international-tug-of-war-between-Ireland-and-England.html
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish could spark international tug-of-war between Ireland and England
Midfielder who shone for Aston Villa at Wembley in FA Cup semi-final likely to be called into next Republic of Ireland squad by Martin O'Neill
Jack Grealish - Aston Villa's Jack Grealish could spark international tug-of-war between Ireland and England.
Rising star: Jack Grealish is on the cusp of an international call-up after impressing for Aston Villa Photo: REX
By Luke Edwards
2:53PM BST 20 Apr 2015
Jack Grealish is set to receive an international call up from the Republic of Ireland at the end of the season as Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane do not want to lose the Aston Villa player to England.
That could lead to an international tug of war as England manager Roy Hodgson is aware the Brummie has not made a competitive senior international appearance for Ireland and is therefore able to switch allegiance.
Grealish has played all of his age group football for Ireland, but turned down an invitation to train with the senior squad last year and has refused to give an answer on whether he wants to spend the rest of his career as an Ireland international.
The 19-year-old, who excelled in Villa’s FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool last weekend, is comfortably the most exciting prospect in Irish football, but was born and raised in England and has so far rejected Ireland manager O’Neill's attempts to get him to commit to the senior side.
Ireland are also monitoring young Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, who has blossomed on a season’s loan at Middlesbrough. Bamford, who has scored 19 goals for the Championship promotion chasers, has played for England Under-21s, but qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents.
Having thought they had managed to get Tottenham striker Harry Kane to commit his international future to Ireland a year ago when he was struggling to get into the Spurs side, O’Neill knows there is a danger they will lose Grealish following his rise to prominence at Villa.
Both O’Neill and Keane, who worked with Grealish during his five month’s as Aston Villa assistant manager, have spoken to the player and his family in an attempt to persuade him to play for Ireland. However, the youngster has been keen to keep his options open and said last month that he would not make a decision until September.
“It’s always a joy to come here and put the green jersey on,” said Grealish after he was named Ireland Under-21 player of the year, despite only playing two games for them.
“I’ve taken a year out to concentrate on my club football and it has helped, I’ve signed a new five year contract and next year [season] hopefully I’ll be back in the green jersey.
“It’s a big decision which country I’m going to play for, it’s an honour to have that decision, but at the moment I’m just concentrating on my club football and hopefully in September I’ll be back playing for Ireland.”
Ireland play a friendly against England in Dublin in June before their vital European Championship qualifier against Scotland the following week and Grealish could well be called into the squad for both games.
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish could spark international tug-of-war between Ireland and England
Midfielder who shone for Aston Villa at Wembley in FA Cup semi-final likely to be called into next Republic of Ireland squad by Martin O'Neill
Jack Grealish - Aston Villa's Jack Grealish could spark international tug-of-war between Ireland and England.
Rising star: Jack Grealish is on the cusp of an international call-up after impressing for Aston Villa Photo: REX
By Luke Edwards
2:53PM BST 20 Apr 2015
Jack Grealish is set to receive an international call up from the Republic of Ireland at the end of the season as Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane do not want to lose the Aston Villa player to England.
That could lead to an international tug of war as England manager Roy Hodgson is aware the Brummie has not made a competitive senior international appearance for Ireland and is therefore able to switch allegiance.
Grealish has played all of his age group football for Ireland, but turned down an invitation to train with the senior squad last year and has refused to give an answer on whether he wants to spend the rest of his career as an Ireland international.
The 19-year-old, who excelled in Villa’s FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool last weekend, is comfortably the most exciting prospect in Irish football, but was born and raised in England and has so far rejected Ireland manager O’Neill's attempts to get him to commit to the senior side.
Ireland are also monitoring young Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, who has blossomed on a season’s loan at Middlesbrough. Bamford, who has scored 19 goals for the Championship promotion chasers, has played for England Under-21s, but qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents.
Having thought they had managed to get Tottenham striker Harry Kane to commit his international future to Ireland a year ago when he was struggling to get into the Spurs side, O’Neill knows there is a danger they will lose Grealish following his rise to prominence at Villa.
Both O’Neill and Keane, who worked with Grealish during his five month’s as Aston Villa assistant manager, have spoken to the player and his family in an attempt to persuade him to play for Ireland. However, the youngster has been keen to keep his options open and said last month that he would not make a decision until September.
“It’s always a joy to come here and put the green jersey on,” said Grealish after he was named Ireland Under-21 player of the year, despite only playing two games for them.
“I’ve taken a year out to concentrate on my club football and it has helped, I’ve signed a new five year contract and next year [season] hopefully I’ll be back in the green jersey.
“It’s a big decision which country I’m going to play for, it’s an honour to have that decision, but at the moment I’m just concentrating on my club football and hopefully in September I’ll be back playing for Ireland.”
Ireland play a friendly against England in Dublin in June before their vital European Championship qualifier against Scotland the following week and Grealish could well be called into the squad for both games.