Doncaster Rovers defender Jay Grehan has revealed how Jake O’Brien’s rise from Crystal Palace’s under-23s to the Premier League has inspired him to target similar progress.
The pair were team-mates at Palace several years ago, when both featured for the Eagles’ under-23 side. O’Brien has since established himself with Everton and recently made three starts for the Republic of Ireland during the latest international break.
Grehan, who is also from Dublin, said O’Brien’s development had been particularly encouraging because they began their careers on a similar path. He described his former Palace colleague as a close friend and said he hopes to use O’Brien’s achievements as motivation for his own journey in the game.
The 22-year-old also enjoyed a notable international window, captaining the Republic of Ireland under-21s in their surprise victory over reigning European champions England in Cork. Ireland finished second in Group D behind Slovakia and will play Finland over two legs next month for a place at the 2027 European Under-21 Championship, a tournament they have never reached.
Grehan is continuing his development at Doncaster, where he has formed a strong partnership with fellow Dublin native Neill Byrne. The 33-year-old defender became a permanent Rovers player in the summer after a loan spell during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign, and Grehan said Byrne’s experience and professional standards have made a significant impact on and off the pitch.
