Martin O’Neill accuses Roy Hodgson of Jack Grealish pressure

The Ireland manager, Martin O'Neill, has accused his England counterpart, Roy Hodgson, of trying to put pressure on Jack Grealish after the Aston Villa midfielder refused to make a decision on whether to play for Ireland or England this month.

Grealish, who was born in Birmingham, has played all his age group football for Ireland and has twice turned down call-ups to the senior squad. After England’s 6-0 win over San Marino on Saturday that confirmed their place at Euro 2016, Hodgson revealed he had made a personal intervention to try to persuade Jack Grealish to pledge his future to the land of his birth.

“We’ve spoken to him and what we’ve said, quite simply, is that we think he is a very talented footballer,” said Hodgson.

“We think he could have a very good international career and we would be more than happy if he chose that career to be England. I’m still hoping that’s what he will do but at the same time because of his family [GRANDPARENTS]he has the opportunity to play for Ireland.

“I made it clear to him: ‘It’s got to be your decision, it’s got to be something you really want to do and that feels right because I certainly don’t want to put you under any undue pressure and I’m not going to resort to artificial means to get you with us and stop you playing elsewhere. I want you to play for England because you want to play for England.’

“Did I expect it [HIS DECISION]earlier? I don’t know. It would be nice if he says yes and then he would have a year to see if he could knock one or two of these players off their perch. That would be pleasant but there is no time limit.”

Asked about Hodgson’s comments following Ireland’s 1-0 win over Georgia in Dublin on Monday which kept alive their hopes of qualification, O’Neill responded: “That’s encouraging, that’s encouraging. Roy’s not going to hang around. Well done Roy, putting the pressure on.”

(Guardian service)