FORMER IRELAND CAPTAIN Kenny Cunningham believes Ireland should forget about calling up Jack Grealish in the future.

Martin O’Neill left the Aston Villa teenager out of his latest squad yesterday after talking to the player and his father Kevin, who said he wasn’t yet ready to decide on his international future.

Speaking on Off The Ball, Cunningham, who made 72 senior appearances for the Boys in  Green and skippered the team at the 2002 World Cup, says Grealish should know by now who he wants to play for.

“I wouldn’t call him up again,” he said. “This lad’s 19. You make a decision to play for your country with your heart, you don’t make it with your head. You don’t need nine or ten months to mull over every potential permutation and the advantages and disadvantages of the choice that you make.

It’s not a decision based on logic. It’s a decision you make with every sinew in your body and heart. This lad’s been in the system for four and five years. He should know!”

And Brian O’Driscoll has backed Cunningham’s comments, tweeting:

Listen to the full Kenny Cunningham interview on OTB here

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