REPUBLIC OF IRELAND manager Stephen Kenny has handed a first international call-up to Sammie Szmodics of Peterborough United.
Szmodics was born in England but qualifies to represent the Boys in Green through a grandmother who hails from Longford.
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder recently helped Peterborough seal their promotion to the Championship, having scored 15 goals in 42 appearances in League One this season.
“I am over the moon to receive my first international call-up for a nation that is close to mine and my family’s hearts,” he told his club;s website. “I am looking forward to the 12 days ahead and experiencing international football.”
Ireland play a friendly away to Andorra on Thursday, before travelling to Budapest for another non-competitive fixture against Hungary on Tuesday week.
Darren Randolph (hip), Callum Robinson (achilles) and Aaron Connolly (foot) have all been forced to withdraw due to injuries.
Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers has been drafted in, while captain Seamus Coleman has also been passed fit to link up with Stephen Kenny’s squad.
Are they the Szmodics from ballyhaunis?
@John O Reilly: I heard that they were the Szmodics from Strokestown. You must be thinking of somebody else.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: you’re right….I’m thinking of the O Szmodics from the crossroads
Barman, pint of Szmodics please…
During Jack’s time we had decent plastic paddies now we are scraping the barrel. Kenny out.
Who?
@Phil McCabe: are you an owl?
@Phil McCabe: Sam Mzmodics. 15 goals this season.
@eoin carroll: an owl one perhaps
@Phil McCabe: hes been class in league 1 this season. Didn’t have a notion he was eligible for Ireland!
@John Palmer: yea league 1. Will he play against Portugal no
Is Obafemi injured or does Kenny not like him?
Seems Kenny holding a grudge going back to his very first squad announcement when Obafemi tweeted and deleted ” Disgrace” after he was left out of the squad. Since then any old upright semi pro who’s ventured across the half way line has been tried upfront instead
@Patrick Daly: England manager can hold a grudge, not Irish manager
@Bert Carolan: Don’t think he’s in the right head space given the tweet. Makes sense imo but I’m sure he’ll be called up again in the next year or two.
@Bert Carolan: I don’t he’s popular with his own club manager either — so perhaps the problem is with the player and their application?
He can score that’s the main thing. Connelly is have some bad luck.
It’s a Hungarian surname I’m guessing since it says on Wikipedia he also qualified to play for them
@Kieran Fogarty: if its one thing the FAI cannot be accused of its a lack of inclusion and diversity. Personally the more the merrier, can’t wait to see names like this appear on GAA team in the next few years, hopefully!
Don’t know anything about him but hopefully he turns out to be one of those players who performs well for his country while playing in lower leagues. We’ve had a few over the years
I like Kenny but he has no luck. You cannot win if you have no luck. He will have to go
@Tony Talbot: make your own luck, hardly a quality addition. Seems Kenny is head strong, his way or the high way.