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Jack Grealish receives maiden...

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Jack Grealish receives maiden England call-up following Rashford injury


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Jack Grealish has been called up to the England senior squad for the first time. 

The former Republic of Ireland U21 player of the year replaces Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, who's been forced to withdraw.

England begin their UEFA Nations League campaign on Saturday away to Iceland, before playing Denmark at Wembley on Tuesday-week.

Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks will also miss both games through injury.

Despite a string of impressive performances for Aston Villa over the past 12-months, Grealish has been notable by his absence from Gareth Southgate's England squads.

The 24-year old was a near ever present in Villa's first season back in the Premier League, scoring eight goals in 36 appearances.

Grealish qualified for the Republic of Ireland through three of his grandparents, and represented the Boys In Green right up to U21 level.

He officially switched his international allegiance to England in September 2015, telling The Telegraph that even though "Ireland has a special place with me through my family", he "felt more English than Irish".

Continually overlooked by Southgate in recent months, the prospect of Grealish switching back to the Republic of Ireland had been discussed online.

However, switching international allegiance more than once is currently outlawed by FIFA.

England squad: 

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United),Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)

Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Keane (Everton), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Danny Ings (Southampton), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)


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Aston Villa England Ireland Jack Grealish Marcus Rashford Republic Of Ireland

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