Declan Rice is set for a hostile reception over the weekend as he prepares to line up for England against the Republic of Ireland on international duty.
The Arsenal star has been a mainstay in the Three Lions team ever since he made his breakthrough with the nation.
However, before he joined up with England, Declan Rice had played three friendly matches in the green of Ireland.
While the 25-year-old has Irish heritage, he decided to side with his country of birth when it came to international football.
That has naturally brought about some anger from those in the Ireland camp, with a reunion on the cards in the upcoming international break.
England travel to the Aviva Stadium for a match against the Republic of Ireland in the latest set of UEFA Nations League clashes.
With it being the first time Rice and fellow teammate Jack Grealish have faced their former national team side in front of a crowd, it will likely bring some hostility.
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John O’Shea verdict on Declan Rice ahead of Ireland v England
With the clash set for Saturday, former Manchester United defender and current Ireland assistant manager John O’Shea has spoken to the media.
The ex-defender, who has played with Rice once in the Ireland setup, was asked about the Arsenal star and whether he thought about an Ireland team with him in it.
“No, not at all,” O’Shea said. “It’s a focus on us and the players that are here and the players who want to be here.
“It’s as simple as that. He’s not here, he’s in the England squad, so we can’t keep talking about it.”
Despite that claim, Rice’s place in the team is bound to be a talking point among pundits, journalists and fans alike.
It remains to be seen exactly how the midfielder will be received by the home crowd, but it seems more than likely that he will be booed if he features.
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What Arsenal need from Declan Rice over the international break
Over the international break, Mikel Arteta will be hopeful that his Arsenal squad players can return to action in the best shape possible.
That may be even more vitally important for Rice of all players, due to his suspension after receiving a red card against Bright and Hove Albion.
The midfielder misses out on the North London Derby against Tottenham but will be available again for Champions League action against Atalanta before the Premier League title showdown with Manchester City.
In an ideal world, Rice should return with full match sharpness after some game time for England without any fresh injury concerns.
The midfielder could feature against Ireland on Saturday before taking on Finland in more Nations League action next Tuesday.
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