Roy Keane has stated that he would welcome Jack Grealish to the Ireland camp with open arms – in as many words – but that people need to ease up on him.
The Aston Villa youngster has been at the centre of a media storm all season as he seemingly deliberates on where to pledge his international allegiance.
But Republic of Ireland assistant manager, Roy Keane, said it would be a great thing if the attacking midfielder plied his trade in Dublin.
“From my experience working with Jack, Jack’s a really good kid. Absolutely, a good kid,” Keane spoke up at the country’s training base in Malahide this morning. “He’s still got a lot to do in the game, he’s obviously got a big decision to make. I think whichever decision he makes will be the right one and I wish him well.
“If he picked Ireland, I think he’d love it here but you’ve got to respect the boy’s decision, whatever he does. As I say, he’s a really nice kid.
“Obviously a lot of people are commenting on the situation – please, God, he comes to play for Ireland but, if he doesn’t, we wish him well. We have to focus on the players who are here and I think the Jack situation will take care of itself over the next few months.”
Roy Keane at today’s press briefing in Malahide.Grealish just broke into the Villa first team during the squad’s run-in at the end of the season when Tim Sherwood took over and, having impressed on big stages like the FA Cup quarter and semi finals, he has been much sought-after.
Keane reckons he still has a bit to go before he’s the finished article but that he is someone who could thrive with Ireland.
“He’s a really nice kid, he has a lot to do, he’s still learning. Obviously he has a lot of potential, that’s what it is at the moment.
“I think, from Jack’s point of view, if he came to play for Ireland, he would love it. I think he would enjoy the players, he obviously enjoyed it at underage level, everyone enjoyed working with him.
“He’s a really nice kid. I think people have been too hard on him lately – if he comes to play for us, brilliant. If he goes to play for England, then you’ve got to respect that decision. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant, you’ve got to accept it.
“I was impressed with Jack when I was working at close quarters with him at Villa and he’s a talented kid. The media interest – not just in Ireland, in England – they like to build these players up before they’ve done too much in the game and Jack has a lot to do yet. But he’s got the potential.
“We’ll see over the next few months how he progresses. It would be great if he was with us but, if not, we’ll just get on with it.”
Meanwhile, Keane wasn’t to be drawn on talk of FIFA or the FAI. When asked whether or not John Delaney was a distraction, the Irish legend quipped, ‘isn’t he always?’
But controversies and football politics haven’t deterred his side’s focus and he reckons players aren’t too bothered with what’s going on at the top.
Particularly when you have England and Scotland games coming up.
“I think they’ve got other, more important stuff to worry about,” the Cork man dismissed. “The players aren’t in control of any of that, who’s running the game, what’s going on or what’s supposed to be going on. The player’s have enough on their plates. Three games in nine or 10 days, that takes care of itself.
“They’re focusing on the game and they’re getting their recovery, like today. Before we know it, we’re into the England game. I’d be surprised – if I was a player at the moment and all that was going on, it wouldn’t concern me.
“We have to get our priorities right, we have to get our focus right. We have a big game of international football where there’s a lot at stake for everybody. We haven’t even discussed it [FIFA]. I’ve had a few chats with the staff but any chats with the players, it doesn’t come into it.
“I think that all the players are generally getting well looked after anyway. What you find with most players is that once they’re getting paid on a regular basis by their clubs and, as I say, they’re getting well looked after – I don’t think it’s a big issue with the players, but you’ll have to ask the players. From the few days I’ve had with the players, it’s not even been discussed, it hasn’t come into conversation.”
