I loved playing for Ireland but the reason I switched to England is obvious

Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has already made it clear to Ireland supporters why he chose to play for England at senior level ahead of a hostile environment on Saturday evening.

Coming through the ranks at Aston Villa, Grealish was eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland. His allegiance to the country was picked up through his grandparents, one of whom was from Dublin, another from Gort and a further from Kerry.

Gaining experience as a teenager, Grealish represented Ireland at U17, U18 and U21 levels before deciding to reject a senior call-up for Martin O'Neill's side and instead choosing to make the switch to the England set-up in 2016. As his star power grew so did his opportunities for the Three Lions.

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Gareth Southgate handed Grealish his debut for both the U21s and senior team and so far he has made a combined 43 appearances for England. Of course, switching allegiances is unlikely to have made the 28-year-old any more popular across the Irish Sea ahead of the two countries clashing in the Nations League this weekend.

Grealish has previously explained his decision to represent England internationally. "I went to Ireland to trial there and I played and I just loved it," he said via Off the Ball three years ago.

"That’s one thing that I’ve always said, when you’re younger you just do what makes you happy. And I loved every moment that I had there. I was just a young kid enjoying my football.

"As I got older, I started playing obviously at Villa, in the first-team, I broke through. And there was a time when I thought: 'Obviously I am English, my parents were born in England, I was obviously