Roy Hodgson has revealed the concerted efforts the Football Association is making to persuade Jack Grealish to abandon the Republic of Ireland and start a new international career with the England team, with the possibility of being fast-tracked straight into the senior squad.

Hodgson said the FA’s technical director, Dan Ashworth, had been in regular contact with the Aston Villa midfielder and his family to make it clear England want him to defect from Ireland.

Gareth Southgate, the England Under‑21s manager, and Aidy Boothroyd, for the Under-20s, have also made personal pleas to try to bring Grealish on board while the Solihull-born player is still eligible for both countries.

Grealish has impressed Hodgson so much he might even have been included in England’s latest squad had the opposition not been Ireland at a time when the FA, under pressure from Fifa, is trying to ensure there is nothing to aggravate tensions before the team’s first trip to Dublin since the Lansdowne Road riot in 1995.

“I would not have picked him on this occasion because it would have been inflammatory at the last minute if he chose us and then went straight to play Republic of Ireland,” Hodgson said.

Grealish has been informed that England see him as someone who can prominently feature if he is willing to choose the country of his birthplace rather than the one he has been representing from under-15 to under-21 level by virtue of three of his grandparents being Irish.

Hodgson expects an announcement from Grealish in the summer and said whichever country missed out – “the loser” – should accept the decision.

“He’s fully aware that if he wants to play for England we’d be very happy to take him,” Hodgson said. “He could play for either country, which one is it going to be? He has to decide. If he doesn’t want to play [for England] or he has doubts, then don’t. We want people who want to be there. We are doing them a favour by picking them – not them doing us a favour by turning up.

“He’s a very talented footballer. He can manipulate the ball in tight areas, he’s a very technically gifted player who seems to play without fear. He seems to be a very strong-minded and confident individual. In my opinion, at this young age, he’s showing the qualities that will make him a very good future international player. But I don’t want to put pressure on him to play for us if he wants to play for Ireland.

“He’s got the two opportunities and there will be an Irish connection in his family as well as an English one, so it is important we leave it to him.

“It has to be Jack’s decision and his alone, we must respect that and should not be attempting to use undue influence. I will leave it for him to decide, and if he decides it is us I will be very happy. And when he does decide, whoever is the loser should respect that, wish him all the best and allow him to get on with it.”

Hodgson was speaking after naming Jamie Vardy in his squad only four years after the Leicester City striker, with four goals in 35 appearances this season, was playing for FC Halifax in the Northern Premier League, subsequently moving to Fleetwood Town.

Charlie Austin of QPR, another player who has worked his way up from non-league, has also been included for the first time and Burnley’s goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, is the third new player in England’s squad for the game at the Aviva Stadium on 7 June, as well as the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia the following weekend.

In effect, England have called up two players from relegated sides while Vardy has more bookings, six, than goals this season, but Hodgson’s options in attack are limited because Harry Kane will be involved in the European Under-21 Championship while Daniel Sturridge is injured and Rickie Lambert’s international career appears to be over.

Danny Welbeck has been included but will need further tests on the knee injury that is threatening his involvement in the FA Cup final for Arsenal. Wayne Rooney has assured Hodgson he will be available despite the dead-leg injury that made him miss Manchester United’s game against Arsenal last weekend and also makes him a doubt for their trip to Hull City on Sunday.

Hodgson clarified that he had no complaints with United after Luke Shaw’s withdrawal from the Under-21 squad, on the basis that the FA’s medical staff had been told by their Old Trafford counterparts the left-back was “physically and medically unfit”.

Ashley Young’s renascent form would have seen him return to the England squad for the first time since September 2013 but Hodgson then discovered the winger has a “slight [injury] issue that needs clearing up over the summer”.