Doncaster Rovers defender's inspiration from Everton man and former Crystal Palace team-mate

It provides a story of hope for the Doncaster Rovers centre-half.

Grehan rubbed shoulders with O'Brien, who plies his trade in the Premier League with Everton, during his time at previous club Crystal Palace, where the pair featured together for the Eagles' under-23 side.

O'Brien is making a name for himself for club and country, making three starts for the Republic of Ireland senior team during the last international break.

Grehan also enjoyed a productive time on the international stage during the hiatus, captaining the Ireland under-21s to a shock victory over reigning European champions England in Cork.

Ireland subsequently earned a place in the play-offs, finishing runners-up in Group D to edge out Slovakia.

Next month, the Irish will face Finland in a two-legged play-off to reach the 2027 European Under-21 Championship, a competition for which they have never previously qualified.

As for O'Brien's story providing him with personal encouragement, Dublin-born Grehan said: "Big time. I was at Palace with Jake a couple of years ago and he's a good friend.

"The way his career has gone has been really good. I'm delighted for him. He's such a great lad and he's done so well.

"I think you have to kind of take inspiration from players like that because you're kind of along the same journey as them.

"He's done amazing and for me to try and follow that would be amazing—something I'd want to try and achieve.""

While playing alongside O'Brien in his early days at Selhurst Park proved to be beneficial for Grehan, the 22-year-old is also currently learning a lot from his time playing with fellow Dubliner Neill Byrne at Rovers.

At 33, Byrne is very much Grehan's senior.

But the pair have struck up a successful on-pitch partnership and also a friendship away from the pitch after the experienced centre-half made his move to Doncaster permanent in the summer following a successful loan spell in the second half of 2025-26 when he helped the club pull away from relegation trouble.

On Byrne's positive impact, Grehan, who shone alongside his defensive partner in last weekend’s derby win over Sheffield Wednesday, said: "Byrner's been great with me ever since he's come in.

"He's always been good and has always helped me out there on the training pitch, in games, and so on. He's great to play with.

"He's always demanding more from you as well, which is big. He's great off the pitch as well with me. He's stayed with me a couple of times a week as well, which is nice.

"So I just get along really well with him and he's helped me so much since he's been here. He's a real pro and does everything right. "You see him in the gym every morning after training and he does everything right.

"So it's good having people around you like that that you can look at what they're doing and try and take stuff from."