Noel King has dismissed concerns that Jack Grealish's withdrawal from the Ireland u21 squad has anything to do with his long term international future. Grealish withdrew from the squad for Thursday's friendly away to Norway to concentrate on his club commitments, including a closed-doors friendly for Aston Villa, and King doesn't see that as a problem.
I accept Jack’s reasons for withdrawing and understand it. I have no issue with it and just see this as an opportunity for other players to come in and show what they can do.
Those called up by King include Kenneth McEvoy and Shelbourne's Dylan Connolly, whose exploits this weekend may have secured him a late call-up. Grealish is not the only player to miss out with Bradley Garmston, Conor Wilkinson and Will Hayhurst also choosing to remain with their clubs and King accepts that that is part of international football.
The players have been ruled out for a variety of reasons and it opens the door for the other players who have been called up.
It’s a friendly game. Everybody that comes in will play and we will get a good look at them as we look to build a squad for the next qualifying campaign.
Despite King's assertion that there is nothing untoward, the fact that Grealish's withdrawal comes very soon after Gareth Southgate's public confirmation that he is being pursued by the English FA will surely be noted as a coincidence if nothing else.
[RTÉ]
