Richard Sadlier says that Jack Grealish’s best option would be to declare for England over the Republic of Ireland.
Writing in the Irish Independent, Sadlier says that Grealish should choose the country of his birth as that is where he will enjoy the most international success.
“When you remove Ireland’s self-interest and look objectively at the options he has, the obvious conclusion is to pick England if they want him to play,” Sadlier writes.
“England is where he was born and where he grew up.
“It’s where both his parents were born, too. He has lived there all his life and was due to play for them at under 15 level, but got sick prior to the match and left the squad.
“He has since played for Ireland all the way up to under 21, but there’s a real doubt as to whether he will do so again. And it’s not hard to see why he is hedging his bets as long as he can.”
Sadlier uses the example of his former Millwall team-mate Tim Cahill, who lined out for Western Samoa as a youngster without thinking he could ever play for Australia. Happily for Cahill, in 2004 FIFA relaxed the rules that dictated a player stick with a country he chose to play for as an adolescent.
That same rule could now see Grealish play for England.
“Ireland aren’t Western Samoa, obviously, and Australia aren’t England. Grealish may never get near to the level Cahill reached either,” adds Sadlier.
“But like Cahill did back then, Grealish might be regretting a decision he made when he was in his mid-teens. Some players have a desire to do more than just play.
“They want to play on the biggest stage they can. A burning ambition to be at every major tournament possible shouldn’t need any explanation. Grealish won’t fulfil that if he chooses Ireland and that’s why he shouldn’t.”
