Kevin Grealish thinks fear of angry fans was a good reason for son to reject Ireland call up

'Jack would probably get booed by both sets of fans if he played in their meeting next month.'

Kevin McGillicuddy

Kevin Grealish thinks fear of angry fans was a good reason for son to reject Ireland call up

Excuses excuses

We’re proposing a ban on the words ‘Jack Grealish’ Ireland’ and ‘England’ for the next three weeks,or at least until after the clash between the two countries at the Aviva.

That’s because after the latest disappointment of not seeing the Aston Villa man in the Ireland squad for the upcoming international games against Northern Ireland,Scotland, and England we just can’t take any more will-he-won’t-he.

The teenager rejected the chance to come on board after a call from Martin O’Neill, and now his father and agent, Kevin Grealish, has revealed why the midfielder didn’t want the distraction of international football next month.

Ireland play England in a friendly on June 7th at the Aviva, and it seems that the player’s reason for rejecting a call may have been a fear of increasing tension between both sets of fans ahead of the historic game next month.

‘Being English-born and having Irish relatives, Jack would probably get booed by both sets of fans if he played in their meeting next month.

‘Jack will complete the club season – hopefully with an FA Cup winners’ medal – before taking a break in the summer. Only after that will we sit down and assess the international situation.

The Ireland U21 international is quick becoming the focus of a tug-of-love between Ireland and England, but it’s believed that Roy Hodgson has no intention of calling him to the senior squad.

However he is understood to be more closely monitored by Gareth Southgate’s U21s.

Grealish senior feels that his son has no interest in any international football until he knows he’ll be playing in the Premier League next season

‘Aston Villa are still not safe from relegation. So all of Jack’s focus is on the final three Premier League games and then the FA Cup final on May 30.’

‘If the team had nothing to play for at this stage of the season, then we might have thought more about it. But now is not the time to be deciding on an international career.’

Grealish previously has stated he’ll decide his international future in September and his father has reiterated that point

‘It was nice of Martin to offer Jack a place in the squad but there was no way he was going to accept. I reiterated what we told Ireland U-21 manager Noel King last September. Jack is taking the year out to concentrate on Aston Villa and that decision has worked out well. It would be the same answer if England were to make an approach. We are being consistent on this.’

H/t to Irish Independent

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