Ireland striker Callum Robinson anticipates that England midfielder Jack Grealish will face a barrage of jeers and insults from the home crowd during Saturday’s Nations League match between the two countries in Dublin. This animosity stems from Grealish’s decision to switch allegiances from Ireland to England, despite representing the Irish at youth levels.
Grealish, who currently plays for Manchester City, was initially omitted from England’s Euro 2024 qualifying squad by former manager Gareth Southgate. However, he was recently recalled by interim manager Lee Carsley for the upcoming matches against Ireland and Finland.
Robinson, who took a path opposite to Grealish’s, having played for England’s youth teams before switching to Ireland, predicts that the 28-year-old will be able to handle the hostile reception.
“I think he’ll be getting ready for a bit of abuse, but that’s part of it, it’s part of the game,” Robinson, who previously played alongside Grealish at Aston Villa, said on Tuesday. “He’s old enough and being a senior player now, that stuff’s going to come. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t because I think he gets booed anywhere he goes anyway, even in England.”
