Gallagher's girlfriend tells him her family may not be impressed by England goal

The Southampton defender may have caused some grief back home with a goal in the 5-0 rout due to his future father-in-law being Ireland legend Roy Keane.

It wasn't just him, though, Conor Gallagher also may have some questions to answer at the Christmas dinner table thanks to his goal in the win.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder was one of five different goalscorers in a victory that secured England promotion to League A of the Nations League in Lee Carsley's final match as interim manager.

The strike was Gallagher's first in 21 caps and a cause for celebration, but maybe not back home.

The former Chelsea man's Irish partner, Aine May Kennedy, later jokingly posted on Instagram: "First international goal. Not sure my Irish family are too impressed."

read more on conor gallagher

Simon Jordan fears for Premier League as LaLiga move closer to one-off game abroad

Gallagher lands first individual award just two months after Chelsea exit

Making clear that there were no hard feelings, she then added another post, saying: "First England international goal for Cons. Myself and Fred are so proud of you.

"You dream of these achievements and you never ever stop pushing yourself."

Fred is the name of the pairs' dog, with the family settling in famously into their new Madrid surroundings.

Gallagher too has Irish family connections and was eligible to play for the Republic and also Scotland, but in reality he was always destined for the Three Lions.

Most read in Football

Harry Kane statue hidden away for five years finally unveiled - and fans are in disbelief

England legend 'bewildered' by Thomas Tuchel holiday decision

Rodrigo Bentancur handed lengthy ban and will miss Tottenham's nightmare fixture run

Arsenal hit with fresh injury headache as star man forced off during international game

Having grown up just ten minutes from Chelsea's Cobham training ground, Gallagher only represented England at youth level, even winning the U17 World Cup in 2017.

The 24-year-old would go on to debut with the Blues in the 2022/23 season and looked like he could be on his way to becoming a Stamford Bridge legend before a series of dramatic transfer windows put his future in doubt.

Gallagher moved to LaLiga giants Atleti in the summer for a reported £34million and he's since become a fan favourite with his intensive playing style well-suited to Diego Simeone's football.

When it comes to his Irish connections, Gallagher will get far less heat than two of his international teammates.

Fellow England regulars Jack Grealish and Declan Rice in fact both played for Ireland's youth teams before making the switch to the country of their birth.

Their swaps have been the cause of plenty of debate over the years, something that was highlighted before the pair rather awkwardly both scored against Ireland in the reverse Nations League clash in September.

Rice refused to celebrate on that occasion, and later told talkSPORT: "Obviously they were going to give a hostile reception to me and Jack but you know we take it on the chin.

"Obviously we we made our decisions, what, seven years ago?

Atletico Madrid Players Sing Their Favourite Conor Gallagher Chant In Training!

"Now it is really irrelevant and now it is time that we just put it to bed because I've been playing for England now for five years, and obviously Jack as well.

"So we've got nothing bad to say. We have Irish family, my nan and granddad... that's why I didn't celebrate. I think it would have been disrespectful to them and obviously what I did when I was playing for Ireland."