D-Day nearing for Jack Grealish, warns Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill says he does not rule out Jack Grealish playing for Ireland but insists it’s now for the player to make his mind up about his international future, after he declined a call-up to the senior squad for the forthcoming games against England and Scotland.

After a dramatic, rumour-fuelled prelude to the manager’s squad announcement — which kicked off an hour late yesterday — O’Neill confirmed he had only just spoken to Grealish and his father Kevin and that the offer had been turned down.

“He wants to complete the season at Aston Villa — there are some important games for them coming up — and he wants to make his decision at some time in the future,” said O’Neill, who admitted he was “disappointed” by the outcome.