FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Alan McLoughlin says the current situation regarding Jack Grealish “doesn’t sit well” and feels the Aston Villa player is unlikely to win many caps in future if he chooses to play for England ahead of the Boys in Green.
Grealish has represented Ireland at underage level but recently turned down a call-up to the Irish squad for their upcoming Euro 2016 clash with Scotland, and McLoughlin — who featured in two World Cup squads and earned 42 caps in total for Ireland — says he does not sympathise with the 19-year-old’s dilemma.
The former Portsmouth and Southampton player, like Grealish, was born in England, but has previously spoken at length about his deep-rooted Irish ties and his immense pride at representing the Boys in Green.
“He’s played at all levels below for Ireland. I hadn’t played at any level when I had the opportunity to play for England or Ireland,” McLoughlin told The42.
“If I set my stall out at 17 or 18 that I was playing for Ireland, then I would play for Ireland until my international career was finished. To change allegiances halfway through doesn’t sit well with me, to be honest.”
McLoughlin, who currently works as an academy coach at Swindon, suspects Grealish’s current stance indicates he is privately keen to choose England over Ireland, though he feels the youngster would be better off declaring for Martin O’Neill’s side.
“It’s opportunistic and I doubt he’ll make a huge impression playing for England [if he chooses them]… I think he would be far better served to go and pit his wits against some of the best players in the world, but he’s chosen to step away from it. And he seems to want to chance his arm with England.
“Only time will tell, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t get too many England caps. He might get a token one going forward, but whether he has a cabinet full of caps [at the end of his career], I would doubt it.”
