Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane made a pointed reference about Jack Grealish's father as the Boys in Green wait for the Ireland U21 player to declare whether his international future lies with Ireland or England.
Keane, who works with the Aston Villa youngster at club level, made the remarks at an Ireland press conference yesterday.
"I don’t ask Jack anymore," said Keane of the English-born Ireland youth international's decision process.
"Sometimes it’s respect, you don’t want to pester people but, unfortunately, a lot would be coming from Jack’s dad.
"Knowing his dad, we could be waiting a bloody long while."
He also had words for Everton over the involvement of their Ireland duo Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, who have sometimes picked up injuries in the lead up to international breaks.
"You always get the impression from Everton that Seamus and James are both barely able to walk.
"So when they actually turn up and they are walking through the reception: 'Praise the lord. It's a miracle.'
Keane was also involved in what's described as a "frank exchange of views" with newspapers journalists yesterday over whether he has become an unwelcome distraction in the wake of last week's incident at the team hotel.
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