Roy Hodgson in no hurry on Jack Grealish despite vacancies in squad

England manager Roy Hodgson says he will leave it to Jack Grealish to decide upon his international future with the England manager apparently in no hurry to see the 19 year-old make a decision.

“I think it’s important that we leave it to him,” he said as he named his squad for next month’s games against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.“He’s a very talented player and has been on the radar for our Under-21 teams.

“He could play for either country, which one’s it going to be? As far as I’m concerned it’s got to be Jack’s decision and I don’t think we should be putting undue influence on him.”

Hodgson is without a number of players for the trip to Dublin due to injuries and England’s involvement in the Under-21 Championships. The circumstances have opened the door for a number of first time call-ups but there was no hint that Grealish had been approached before or since the 19 year-old decision to decline a call up from Martin O’Neill last week.

Squad: Rob Green (Queens Park Rangers), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Tottenham), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester) Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).