Updated 14.15
JACK GREALISH HAS not been named in the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of next month’s internationals.
Martin O’Neill wanted to include Grealish in his provisional squad for the games against England and Scotland.
But he was not able to convince the Aston Villa youngster to commit to the senior Irish set-up at this time.
“I spoke to both Jack and his father,” O’Neill told the media on Tuesday.
“I think Jack just didn’t want to make his mind up at this stage. He wanted to complete the season at Aston Villa.
There are some important games for them coming up and he wants to make his decision some time in the future.
“I suppose I am [disappointed],” the Ireland boss admitted.
“He’s been doing very well recently and it would have been nice but that’s Jack decision.
I spoke to the father and said I would like to have brought him in but of course you don’t want to force someone who might not want to make that decision just at this moment.
The 19-year-old has been at the centre of an international tug-of-war since breaking into the Villa first team under Tim Sherwood.
The English FA stepped up their interest following his dazzling display in Villa’s FA Cup semi-final win against Liverpool.
And O’Neill is unsure whether the Birmingham-born youngster will continue to line out for Ireland, whom he has represented up to U21 level, or switch allegiances to his native country.
“Do you know what, I really don’t know at this stage,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a good possiblity [he will play for Ireland].”
Grealish indicated earlier this year that he hoped to return to Noel King’s U21 setup after taking time out to concentrate on his club development.
O’Neill said this latest attempt to integrate him into the senior Irish set-up was not an attempt to ward off growing English interest, and that if Grealish had wanted to train with the squad but opt out of the competitive game against Scotland — thus keeping him eligible for an international switch — that would have been acceptable.
There has been a definite u-turn since O’Neill ruled out the crunch Group D qualifier as too big an occasion for the youngster’s competitive debut.
Grealish has since started all three of Villa’s Premier League matches, playing every minute bar the final minute of Saturday’s win over West Ham — a game in which he set up Tom Cleverley’s winner and was named man of the match.
O’Neill accepted that circumstances have changed since he made those comments.
“At the time that I was dealing with it, with him not playing very much football, I think my answer was pretty obvious,” he said.
I’m not even sure that Jack would have realised that he would play the number of games that he has done since, and also in quick succession too so he’s getting a really good feel of [Premier League] football and making an impression as well too.
“All of those things that maybe five weeks ago might not have been in anyone’s consideration, of course there’s a very natural change…
“If he had not been involved in these five or six games, then I’m sure that the game against Scotland would have been rather tougher at that time. Now that he’s getting used to it, it’s a different decision.”
Brentford’s Alan Judge and Aberdeen’s Adam Rooney are the two new faces in the squad for the friendly against England (7 June) and the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland (13 June).
The squad will be whittled down before assembling on 1 June.
Republic of Ireland squad: David Forde, Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, Darren Randolph, Richard Keogh, Marc Wilson, Seamus Coleman, Cyrus Christie, John O’Shea, Alex Pearce, Paul McShane, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Stephen Ward, Harry Arter, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady, James McClean, Alan Judge, Robbie Brady, Anthony Pilkington, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Wes Hoolahan, Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Jon Walters, Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, David McGoldrick, Adam Rooney, Simon Cox.
