Jack Grealish has spoken about how he always "felt English" growing up, with the Aston Villa captain hoping to make his debut for Gareth Southgate's side this weekend.
England begin their Nations League campaign away to Iceland tomorrow, before welcoming Denmark to Wembley on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old represented the Republic of Ireland at underage level, before switching alleagiance back to the country of his birth. He received his first call-up to the full England squad this week after Marcus Rashford withdrew due to an injury.
And speaking to Sky Sports, Grealish said England were always his preferred country to line out with.
A dream come true to receive my first senior call up for @England #ThreeLions 🏴🦁
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) August 31, 2020
"I've had a bit of an unusual career, I was 19 when I said that I would like to change from Ireland to England, and at the time I didn't think it would take five years.
"I had a chat with my parents, with Roy Hodgson who was the manager at the time, but you know it didn't happen for certain reasons.
"We ended up getting relegated that season, and I've been in the Championship for three years now so it's just a relief it's finally come and hopefully I can be here to stay.
"Since I was a kid, I've felt like I'm English. My family are English, it was just my grandparents who are Irish and when I was a young kid I was playing for Ireland because that's what felt right.
"It felt fun, if anything. But then as I got older, I felt English, I felt like I could get into the England team, and get into the senior team, and now here I am."
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish (right) Leicester City's Marc Albrighton battle for the ballGrealish has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United during the current transfer window, having scored eight goals in 36 games for Villa last season.
He says he's been treating training with the England squad these days like a trial to earn his first cap for the Three Lions.
"It's more or less like a trial at the moment, coming in for the first time, and hopefully I can show [Southgate] what I can do in training.
"I've had Gareth as a manager before for the U21s and loved my time with him. It's him as a manager. I've been here for two days and I can see what type of manager he is.
"He's made time for everyone, been around to everyone speaking to all the lads and staff, and I can tell it's a very tight-knit group here.
"He wants to build on that, lads to come away with England and enjoy it and want to play for their country which I know for a fact that everyone does."
Grealish added that he was delighted when he received the call-up from former Villa player Southgate last weekend.
Good first few days with the team 🏴⚽️ #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/mmStZhlOQC
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) September 2, 2020
"I was over the moon, it's a call I wasn't really expecting, but when someone from Villa got hold of me to tell me Gareth wanted to speak to me, it was obviously a massive, massive moment for me, something I won't forget.
"Sunday evening it was. I was just at home with my family, it was something I wasn't really expecting, but I took it and it was obviously a call I don't regret not answering!
"I was in the lounge at my house, my family were there, it was my little sister's birthday. We were just about to go out for some food, so my dad, my mum and my two little sisters were all there.
"It was something I will never forget. Now that I'm finally here, I can't wait to get started.
"It was emotional, to be honest. Everyone says the same thing when they get called up to the senior team for the first time, it was something I wanted to have done earlier on in my career, but it doesn't always work out the way you plan it, and now I'm delighted it's finally happened.
"I am so close with all my family and especially my little sister as well, it was her 17th birthday, and it made the whole day that extra little bit special."
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