ASTON VILLA BOSS Tim Sherwood has suggested that Jack Grealish may decide to declare for England rather than remaining with the Republic of Ireland at senior international level.
The 19-year-old, who was sent off as Villa booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, has featured for the Boys in Green at U17, U19 and U21 level.
However, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss believes that the player’s senior ambitions lie with England.
“I think he might play for England but he’s got to play for Villa first,” Sherwood told the Birmingham Mail ahead of the FA Cup quarter final.
The Solihull native last featured for the Boys in Green in September 2014 as Noel King’s U-21 team fell to a 2-0 defeat against Germany. He subsequently withdrew from the U21 squad in October ahead of a friendly game against Norway, with King stressing that he had “no issue” with the player’s decision.
Grealish was slso absent from King’s squad in November, with the former Derry City and Finn Harps boss revealing that the player’s preference was to concentrate on his Aston Villa career.
