‘He’ll be getting ready for a bit of abuse’ – Callum Robinson expects hot Ireland reception for friend Jack Grealish
Ireland forward Callum Robinson expects childhood friend Jack Grealish to receive abuse from the hostile Lansdowne Road crowd when England visit Dublin on Saturday – but admits it’ll be nothing new to the Manchester City winger.
This weekend will mark Grealish’s first visit to the Aviva Stadium since opting to play for England rather than Ireland, having earned six Irish U-21 caps before switching allegiances in 2015.
The 28-year-old could have played for Ireland against England in Dublin that summer but turned down a call-up from Martin O’Neill and has since gone on to win 36 caps for the Three Lions. Robinson first met the winger at age eight at Aston Villa’s academy and the pair have since forged a close bond.
“I don’t know what abuse he might get, but he’ll be expecting it,” said Robinson, as preparations continue for Saturday’s sold-out clash (kick-off 5pm).
“I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t because he gets booed anywhere he goes, even in England. So he’ll be getting ready for a bit of abuse [on Saturday].
“But that’s part of it. He’s old enough and being a senior player, that stuff is going to come. He gets it in England games anyway, or games in the Premier League. I don’t think there will be any change on Saturday. He’ll be getting it.
“It’s known that me and him are real good friends since we started together at 13 or 14 and are grateful we’ve made a career in the game.
“It does feel good between us both that we’re playing at this level against each other in international football.”
This month has seen both players return to their international sides, with Robinson earning a first call-up since November, while Grealish returns to Lee Carsley’s England set-up having been omitted from the Euro 2024 squad under Gareth Southgate.
“Yeah I was [surprised by Grealish’s Euro 2024 omission] and not just because he’s a close friend. I thought he’d bring something different to that squad on and off the pitch. He’s a big part of that squad,” added Robinson.
“They probably didn’t have the best of tournaments playing-wise, but they got to the final, and that’s the quality of the players they have.”
All 23 Irish players trained in Abbotstown yesterday, bar Séamus Coleman and Andrew Omobamidele.
However, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden have all been ruled out of Carsley’s first matches as interim England manager.
