EMERALD DIAMOND TO

Grealish’s amazing international journey began when he fainted before an England U-15 trial & was snapped up by the Irish.. but now he’ll wear the Three Lions against them at Wembley

JACK GREALISH has shown Manchester United what they are missing this season.

Now the talented Aston Villa skipper is set to give the Republic of Ireland a taste of what might have been in Thursday’s friendly at Wembley.

It is certain to sting the Irish, who are still coming to terms with missing out on next summer’s delayed Euro 2020 finals after losing on penalties to Slovakia in the play-offs last month.

But it could have been so different, given Grealish played for them as a teenager and won six Under-21 caps.

Now Ireland’s failure to pick Grealish for a senior competitive match could come back to haunt them.

Grealish, 25, is in irresistible ble form after four goals and five v ve assists already in the Premier i er League, and the attacking nn g midfielder will fancy adding to that against Ireland.

There is an extra incentive too o oo as Grealish’s best pal is Republic of Ireland forward Callum Robinson on (right).

Grealish’s full England debut at Wembley last month saw him walk alk a away with the Man of the Match ch c award after excelling in a 3-0 win over Wales.

Now fans are expecting more brilliance from the star who

United it d chased h d last l t summer only lt to baulk at his £80million price tag.

That decision seems folly now and it paved the way for Grealish to stay at Villa on a new £130,000a-week five-year contract.

The excitement around Grealish has increased since he made his name starring at Wembley in Villa’s 2–1 FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool in April 2015.

Grealish had an initial sniff of making it with England when he got an Under-15 trial with the likes of then Villa team-mate Robinson, plus Lewis Baker, Jordan Graham, Diego Poyet and Chuba Akpom.

But bizarrely he missed out on playing in the Victory Shield after jumping out of bed too quickly in the team hotel , fainting and crashing to the deck in the bathroom.

An England car dropped him back home the same morning.

Ireland scouts picked up the scent after seeing Grealish play for Vi l l a a t a Ni k e tour tournament nament in

Warwickshire.

A scout went over to dad Kevin to ask if

Ja c k ’s grandparents were Irish, which they were. Grealish then made his debut for r their Under- Under-16s, 16s, aged 14, in Dublin against Wales (above, e, with his dad). He was happy ppy to pull on the green jersey sey and it was good for his development.

Ireland always ways played

Grealish at least two years above his age group – even when he was 17 he was in the

Under-21s.

Senior team boss

Martin O’neill ill came to see him play lay for

Villa after he had starred against inst

Liverpool at

We m b l e y , but O’neill’s decision not to cap him backfired.

And then it was too late, as Grealish decided to take a year out of int ernational rnat fo otb al l to conc concentrate entr on cementing a place in the Aston Villa fir first r team. Ireland stayed sta a on his trail but Grealish stuck by his decision and later held out for England.

Hi s strategy has now been vindicated – and England’s gain is most certainly Ireland’s loss.

He missed out on playing after jumping out of bed too quickly, fainting and crashing to the deck