Jack Grealish unavailable for friendlies with Spain and France
Wednesday 4 November 2015 15:23, UK
Jack Grealish has yet to be cleared to play for England and will not be in Roy Hodgson's squad for the friendlies with Spain and France later this month.
The Aston Villa midfielder represented the Republic of Ireland at youth levels but decided in September to play for England in the senior ranks.
All of the relevant paperwork was submitted soon after his decision but FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that clearance had not been granted, meaning Grealish will have to wait until 2016 for his debut.
A FIFA spokesperson said: "We can confirm having been contacted by the Football Association with a request for change of association of the player Jack Grealish.
"The matter is pending and being investigated by our services and as a result, we are not in a position to comment on it any further nor to give an estimation as to the relevant time line."
England manager Hodgson names his squad to face Spain and next summer's European Championship hosts France on Thursday afternoon, and Grealish could still be included in his travel plans to Alicante.
Grealish was invited to St George's Park to get to know the rest of England's set-up during last month's international break, but he was stopped from doing so by then Villa manager Tim Sherwood.
Injuries meant Grealish would have been in contention for a place in Hodgson's squad, which will be lacking a total of 13 players who are currently sidelined.
Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are unavailable after suffering calf and hamstring injuries in Arsenal's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday while Phil Jagielka is out until Christmas with knee ligament damage.
Daniel Sturridge continues to struggle for fitness following his long-term injury troubles and his Liverpool team-mate Danny Ings is out for the rest of the season after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament during training.
Other high-profile absentees include Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, Luke Shaw and Jordan Henderson.
England face Spain in Alicante on Friday week and host France at Wembley four days later, their first games since the end of a European Qualifying campaign that saw them win 10 games out of 10.
