On the eve of today's friendly between the two love rivals for Jack Grealish's affections, Roy Hodgson threw out a comment which implies something that many already believe - that England have already won his heart.
Apparently, Grealish's agent initiated contact with the FA.
I think Jack Grealish’s agent initiated some discussions with the FA. I haven’t spoken to him. He’s still a young player with a very bright future either for England or Ireland and he should make up his mind.
Hodgson agreed with Rooney's take on the granny rule, describing the link as 'tenuous'. He also, in the fashion of a revisionist historian, reminded folk that Grealish played his first international at youth level for England.
Wayne has said that, despite Irish grandparentage, he’s English. It’s a tenuous link in some ways, but that is what the rules state. He’ll choose the country which suits him best and he thinks is the right one for him. I guess he will be influenced by his family. He played his first game for England at Under-15 but left to play for Ireland instead.
Careful now. A great deal of Irish success was built with the aid of that tenuous link.
