Jack Grealish denies contact with England officials

Jack Grealish has not opened negotiations with England with a view to defecting from Ireland.

Sources close to the player have dismissed suggestions that he or his family have, as England manager Roy Hodgson put it on Saturday — “initiated” discussions — to switch allegiance.

It would appear that, although the agent representing Grealish has spoken to English FA officials about the 19-year-old, this ultimate decision of this subject is beyond their influence.

Only the player and his family will decide on such a long-term commitment.

Grealish is currently in Dubai on an end-of-season break.

He enjoyed an impressive second half of the season for Aston Villa, claiming the club’s Young Player of the Year and helping the team reach the FA Cup final.

With the international fixtures for next season to begin in September, the teen has vowed to settle on a decision as to whether he sticks with Ireland or accepts the open invitation tabled by Hodgson.

The Birmingham-born winger has represented Ireland from U15 to U21 level but opted to take a year out of the international set-up following last September’s U21 Euro qualifier in Germany.

“I believe there have been discussions,” said Hodgson on Saturday. “I think Jack Grealish 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.

“I’m sure that he and his family and representatives will make the decision which suits him and we won’t put pressure on him, other than to say we’d be happy to have him in our ranks.”

England captain Wayne Rooney, who rejected the chance of declaring for Ireland as a teen, added: “I’m a firm believer that the country you are born.”

One can only assume his strike partner in yesterday’s friendly, Jamaican-born Raheem Sterling, disagrees.