Jack Grealish indicates availability for Republic of Ireland next season

Jack Grealish has signalled his intention to make himself available for the Republic of Ireland at the start of next season. Asked about his position as he was named under-21 player of the year at the 3-sponsored FAI International awards on Sunday night, the 19-year-old said he had spoken to Noel King.

“It’s always a joy to come over and put the green jersey on,” he said. “I spoke to Noel at the start of the year and I said this year I’m going to take a year out to concentrate on my club football. I’ve signed anew five-year contract and had a good year so hopefully next year I’ll be back inthe green jersey”

There has been considerable speculation the midfielder might declare for England since he made himself unavailable to King but Grealish said he had simply wanted a year to concentrate on progressing his club career.

John O’Shea said he felt “very privileged” to be named senior player of the Year. Remarkably, it was the first award at the event O’Shea had ever received despite having received his first cap, at under-15 level, some 18 years ago. “That’s the best one to get, the senior award,” he said with a laugh when his record was mentioned to him. “The players, the history, the players that have won it; I’m very, very privileged.

“It’s a very proud moment, especially for my family,” he continued. “My mam and dad, all the effort they put into me growing up, taking me to games, to get an award like that is special, from all the way up from Ferrybank and getting across to England.” [CROSSHEAD]Young player award [/CROSSHEAD]Jeff Hendrick received the young player award while Aiden McGeady’s second strike against Georgia won the goal of the year.

Martin O'Neill, meanwhile, has named 29 players, down from 35, in his revised squad for Sunday's game against Poland with David McGoldrick, Jeff Hendrick, Anthony Pilkington, Rob Elliot, Paul Green and Simon Cox all missing out from the original group.

Aiden McGeady failed to make even the bench for Everton against Queen’s Park Rangers on Saturday but the manager said he hadn’t given up hope at all on the midfielder being available for Sunday although, he suggested, he would know more over the next day or two.

While McGeady's fitness is clearly a concern, there was some good news over the weekend in terms of the performances turned in by various players and with his side needing to beat the Poles, O'Neill is likely to have been encouraged by the fact five squad members Shane Long, Robbie Keane, Harry Arter, Séamus Coleman and Wes Hoolahan all scored for their clubs.

While McGoldrick, Hendrick aand Pilkington have all failed to recover from injuries in time to join the squad, Robbie Brady’s appearance 10 minutes from time for Hull City all but confirmed his availability to travel. Stoke City boss Mark Hughes had confirmed on Saturday that Jon Walters would be allowed to travel despite the player having had to wear a face mask to protect the fractured cheekbone on which he had surgery earlier in the week when he came on against Crystal Palace.

REVISED REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: David Forde (Millwall), Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Darren Randolph (Birmingham City), Richard Keigh (Derby County), Marc Wilson (Stoke City), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Derby County), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Reading), Paul McShane (Hull City), James McCarthy (Everton), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Darron Gibson (Everton), Aiden McGeady (Everton), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Robbie Brady (Hull City), Stephen Quinn (Hull City), David Meyler (Hull City), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Jon Walters (Stoke City), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Anthony Stokes (Celtic).

3/FAI International Award winners
Senior Player: John O'Shea (Sunderland)
Senior Women's Player: Julie-Ann Russell (UCD Waves)
Goal of the Year: Aiden McGeady (Everton)
Young Player: Jeff Hendrick (Derby)
SSE Airtricity League Player: Colin Healy (Cork City)
Hall of Fame Award: Andy Townsend
International Personality: Jan Tomaszewski
Special Merit: Stephanie Roche (Houston Dash) &U19 Women's Team
Under-21 Player: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Under-19 Player: Sam Byrne (Everton)
Under-19 Women's Player: Megan Connolly (College Corinthians)
Under-17 Player: Danny Kane (Huddersfield Town)
Under-17 Women's Player: Evelyn Daly (Lakewood Athletic)
Under-16 Player: Conor Masterson (Liverpool)
Under-16 Women's Player: Jamie Finn (Raheny United)
Under-15 Player: Anthony Scully (West Ham)
Junior International: Darren Dunne (Sheriff YC)
Intermediate Player: Danny Long (Avondale United)
Football for All Player: Aoife McNicoll (Irish Powerchair Football Squad)
FAI School's International Player: Ryan Manning (Yeats College, Galway).