Jack Grealish is expected to hold out for a possible England call up after the 19-year-old rejected the chance to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad.

Martin O’Neill, the Ireland manager, had hoped to call Grealish up for next month’s friendly against England and the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland, but the teenager maintained that he is not yet ready to make a decision on his international future and that he would prefer to concentrate on playing for Aston Villa.

A burgeoning presence in the Villa first-team since Tim Sherwood took over as manager, Grealish has been widely acclaimed for his performances in recent weeks and now finds himself is at the centre of a tug-of-war between England and Ireland. O’Neill, the former Villa manager, confirmed that he had spoken to Grealish and his father with a view to bringing him into the senior set up but denied that he was trying to force the player’s hand.

Grealish was born and raised in Birmingham but his father’s parents are Irish and he has represented the country at youth level and played for their Under-21 side. He was called up for England at schoolboy level earlier in his career but had been forced to pull out through illness and it is understood that the the way things were handled by the FA afterwards went down badly.

Representing England at senior level, however, remains a distinct possibility, with those close to Grealish predicting that he will weigh up his options for a good while longer. Grealish is enjoying his football at the moment and, with Villa still looking to secure their Premier League status and an FA Cup final against Arsenal on the horizon, he has more than enough on his plate. At the same time there is a clear sense among those that know Grealish well that he will want to leave the door open to a potential England call up.

O’Neill said: “I spoke to both Jack and his father and I think Jack just didn’t want to make his mind up at this stage. He wanted to complete the season at Aston Villa - there are some important games for them coming up - and he wants to make his decision at some time in the future.”

While disappointed with Grealish’s decision, O’Neill said he did not consider it a snub: “No. I don’t take it personally. I think Jack is pretty firm in what he wants to do and that’s fine. He has been doing very well recently and it would have been nice, but that’s Jack’s decision. I spoke to the father and said I would like to have brought him into it, but of course you don’t want to force someone who might not want to make that decision just at this moment.”

Republic of Ireland squad for friendly v England, 7 June, and Euro 2016 qualifier v Scotland, 13 June



Goalkeepers: Forde (Millwall), Given (Aston Villa), Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Randolph (Birmingham City) Defenders: Keogh (Derby County), Wilson (Stoke City), Coleman (Everton), Christie (Derby), O’Shea (Sunderland), Pearce (Reading), McShane (Hull City), Ward (Burnley). Midfielders: McCarthy (Everton), Hendrick (Derby), Arter (Bournemouth), Whelan (Stoke), McGeady (Everton), McClean (Wigan Athletic), Judge (Brentford), Brady (Hull), Pilkington (Cardiff City), Quinn (Hull), Meyler (Hull), Hoolahan (Norwich City). Forwards: Keane (LA Galaxy), Long (Southampton), Murphy (Ipswich Town), Walters (Stoke), Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Stokes (Celtic), McGoldrick (Ipswich), Rooney (Aberdeen), Cox (Reading)