Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish will want to stake his claim for England now his boyhood club are in the Premier League.
Gary Neville has hit out at Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish for previously wanting ‘assurances’ to play for England as the debate of picking which country you play for as a youngster flared up once again.
In 2015, when Grealish was a teenager, he was representing the Republic of Ireland’s U-21’s when England came knocking for his services – he opted to switch allegiances from ROI to England, as reported by the Guardian.
Since then, Grealish hasn’t represented England’s senior team because he has been playing in the Championship, but a similar scenario of a player switching allegiances did rear its ugly head again this year when Declan Rice switched from ROI to England – unlike Grealish, Rice did represent the ROI senior team on three occasions before making the controversial switch.
Speaking on Sky Sports (09/06/2019) during England’s UEFA Nations League encounter against Switzerland, Neville shared his thoughts on younger players picking which country to play for, as he gave Grealish as an example.
“I have got a very definite view on this one,” Neville told Sky Sports. “I don’t think you should have to fight to ask a player to play for your country. I mentioned with Declan RIce a year or so ago, I think it gets to a certain point where you just have to declare who you want to play for and it’s fine to make your choice.
“There was a situation when I was coaching with England when the FA at the time were trying to win the services of Jack Grealish and he wanted meeting with managers, assurances and other such things. It’s nonsense all of that!
“Choose your country. If you’re good enough you’ll get in, if you’re not then you won’t. I don’t believe in the idea that you have to persuade someone to play for your country or give them assurances. How can you give them assurances in sport? You have to play well.”
Since making the switch, Grealish has represented England’s Under-21’s, but the 23-year-old is no longer eligible to play for that age group.
During his time in the Championship, Grealish was widely regarded as the best player in the division and now that Villa will be playing Premier League football next term, he has the chance to showcase his name for a senior call-up for the Three Lions.
Given his talents and the fact that England manager Gareth Southgate watched him when he was playing in the second tier, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Grealish is playing for the country of his birth sooner rather than later.
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