Republic of Ireland striker Callum Robinson says he would be surprised if England’s Jack Grealish is not met with a frosty reception from the Aviva Stadium crowd during Saturday’s Nations League match.
Birmingham-born Grealish represented the Republic of Ireland at under-age level, qualifying through his grandparents, before switching in September 2015.
Manchester City’s Grealish starred in England’s friendly win over the Republic of Ireland in 2020 but has not faced the ‘Boys in Green’ in Dublin since changing allegiance.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, an unused substitute in that 2020 friendly, is also preparing for a reunion with the Republic of Ireland after earning three friendly caps in 2018, before deciding to represent England.
Robinson, who is close friends with Grealish, says the 28-year-old will be “expecting” some “abuse” from the Irish fans on Saturday.
“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t because I think he gets booed anywhere he goes anyway – even in England,” said the 29-year-old Robinson, who represented England at under-age level before switching to the Republic of Ireland in 2018.
“I think he’ll be getting ready for a bit of abuse but that’s part of it, it’s part of the game. He’s old enough and with being a senior player now, that stuff’s going to come.
“As I said, he gets it in English games [in the Premier League], I don’t think there will be any change on Saturday, I think he will be getting it.”