Sherwood: Jack may not make Euro 2016
Monday saw the Aston Villa winger bring to a close his quandary over which country to represent at senior level and England boss Roy Hodgson had indicated there was scope for the 20-year-old to challenge for a place in his squad.
With England already assured of progressing as group winners, a series of friendly games, starting against Spain and France in November, have been arranged to enable Hodgson experiment with personnel.
Once Grealish’s Fifa clearance is confirmed, the former Ireland U21 attacker has a number of months to push for inclusion, yet his club boss reckons the task is beyond the starlet in some a short timeframe.
“I think this championship might be a little bit too soon for Jack,” said Sherwood.
“It’s good news for England and hopefully Jack has cleared his mind now. We’re looking for some improved performances from him now on the pitch so those international managers are very excited and choose to pick him.
“He’s got a lot of competition there for England so he needs to make sure that he is playing well for Aston Villa, and we’re sure he will.
“He has loads of potential, and that’s what it is at the moment. He needs to start fulfilling that potential. That will mean he might get picked by England and becomes an international.
“He’s got a long way to go. We know what talent Jack possesses. But he has to show it on a regular basis. Consistency is everything in this game.”
Meanwhile, Ireland legend Paul McGrath feels Grealish has made the wrong choice by turning his back on the country he played at every underage level for.
Like his former Ireland team-mate Shay Given, who says the emerging star could have won 100 caps for Ireland, McGrath is of the belief Grealish will be a small fish in the English pool.
“I would have opted for Ireland if I was him because I think his chances of getting a regular spot with the England team are more limited,” the 83-time capped McGrath told RTÉ’s 2fm.
“England could play him in a couple of games and then he finds that he’s shut out a little bit.
“Talented player though he is, at the age he is, he has a lot to prove. Aston Villa haven’t been winning games but he’s been playing really well and has shown he has great ability. He would have got more regular international football with Ireland and it would have been great if he had picked us.
“Deep down he probably does feel he’s more English. But he’s already played for Ireland underage, which calls into question his reasons for picking England.”
