Jack Grealish facing Ireland fan fury but pal in Irish camp claims he is used to it
Jack Grealish and Declan Rice are both in for a hot reception at Saturday's Nations League game at Aviva Stadium
Jack Grealish is braced for a vicious backlash from Ireland fans this Saturday.
But one of his best mates believes the England ace is thick-skinned enough to handle whatever comes his way at Aviva Stadium.
Ireland striker Callum Robinson played with Grealish at Aston Villa and they remain close friends and have been messaging each other ahead of this clash.
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But Robinson knows the Manchester City star will be in the line of fire having snubbed the Boys in Green at senior level, after playing for them up to U21s.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice - who made three senior appearances for Ireland - is also set for a fiery reception after turning his back on the green shirt.
They will get it in the neck during the opening Nations League game, but Robinson reckons his friend Grealish is well used to the boo-boys.
“I don’t know what abuse he might get but I think he’ll be expecting it,” said Robinson last night, ahead of the game.
“I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t because he gets booed anywhere he goes, even in England, so I think he’ll be getting ready for a bit of abuse.
“But that’s part of it, that’s part of the game and I think he’s old enough - and being a senior player - to know that stuff is going to come.
“He gets it in England games anyway, or English games in the Prem, so I don’t think there will be any change on Saturday - he will be getting it.”
Cardiff City striker Robinson continued: “Me and Jack are really good friends since we started together when we were 13, 14.
“We’re grateful that we’ve made a career in the game. He went on to do really good stuff and I’ve made a career out of it as well.
”It feels good that we’re playing against each other at this level in international football. It will be nice.”
Interim England boss Lee Carsley - once the favourite to succeed Stephen Kenny as Ireland manager - has recalled Grealish to the Three Lions squad.
That’s after the 28-year-old was dropped from Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the Euros in Germany this summer.
Robinson was shocked by the snub and reckons Grealish will be out to prove a point in Dublin.
“I was (surprised,) and not just because he’s a close friend. I thought he would bring something different to that squad on and off the pitch as well,” said Robinson.
“He’s a big part of that squad. Off the pitch, he’s been part of that squad for four or five years now, and he’s a character.
“In tournament football, that’s big off the pitch, but on it as well he would probably bring something a bit different to that squad.”
And although England reached the final only to lose to Spain, Robinson feels Grealish would have injected more life into their attack.
“Playing wise, they probably didn’t have the best of tournaments but listen, they got to the final and that’s the qualities of the players they do have,” he added.
“But I do think he probably would have helped in a different way in that tournament.”
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