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Jack Grealish has already turned down the chance to join up with the England squad

Published 10:32 1 Oct 2015 BST

Evan Fanning
Jack Grealish has already turned down the chance to join up with the England squad

Homesport

We didn't see this coming.

The disappointment of Jack Grealish's perfectly reasonable decision to declare for England rather than Ireland has been offset by the knowledge that the most tiresome saga this side of Stephen Ireland is finally at an end. No more will we have to stare at his green emojis wondering 'what is the real meaning behind your emoticon selection, Jack?' But we can have some sympathy this morning for our friends across the water this morning as, according to The Telegraph's midlands correspondent John Percy, Grealish has already rejected the chance to join up with the England squad. Grealish is unable to play for the country of his birth just yet as he awaits clearance from Fifa, but Roy Hodgson invited the Aston Villa midfielder to train with the squad ahead of next week's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania. But after consultation with Villa boss Tim Sherwood Grealish has decided to stay with Villa and focus on his fitness. Rejected already. We know how you feel, Roy.

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Jack Grealish has already turned down the chance to join up with the England squad