JOHN O’SHEA HAS NAMED his first – and perhaps only – squad as Republic of Ireland head coach.
Sammie Szmodics is included for the upcoming international friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium, while Jake O’Brien and Finn Azaz earn their first senior call-ups.
Robbie Brady, Seamus Coleman, Michael Obafemi and Callum O’Dowda all return to the 26-man squad.
— Sam Szmodics (@SamSzmodics) March 14, 2024
Szmodics has been in red-hot goalscoring form for Blackburn Rovers in the Championship this season. Stephen Kenny recruited the striker and named him in multiple squads, but he is yet to be capped. Interim boss O’Shea could now hand the 28-year-old his debut.
Alan Browne, Shane Duffy and Callum Robinson are among notable absentees.
Kevin De Bruyne was left out of the Belgium squad earlier today.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Dara O’Shea (Burnley), Liam Scales (Celtic), Jake O’Brien (Lyon), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Festy Ebosele (Udinese)
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Will Smallbone (Southampton). Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen), Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City), Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Michael Obafemi (Millwall, on loan from Burnley), Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town), Troy Parrott (Excelsior, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).
Fixtures
- Saturday 23 March – Ireland v Belgium, Aviva Stadium, 5pm
- Tuesday 26 March – Ireland v Switzerland, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm.
Great to see the 3 newcomers included well deserved.
On form, Szmodics and Jake o’Brien should be starting
@David Ryan : He was injured for the first half of the season now he’s on the Bench a lot more times than he is starting but I think he is a good player and if he stays injury free he be ok for us
Do we know if Cannon was approached?
@Aprior: I’d say Cannon’s head has been swayed by England and it is not for turning. Leave him off.
Good to see Szmodics in it. Hopefully he will stay in it this time and make his debut next week.
Good to see O’Shea move on some of the dead wood and freshen the squad up a little with O’Brien and Azaz.
@Joe O’Regan: still dead wood there that needs to be pruned.
Then the young buds can bloom!!
No Ryan Manning?
Where’s Tom Cannon ?
@Derek O’Sullivan: does he even start for Leicester
If we could replace O Dowda with a really top level central midfielder (we don’t have one), that would be a competitive looking squad.
@Louis Jacob: Also. Delighted to see Szymodics tweet… Oh ye of little faith!
@Louis Jacob: I think the midfield problems go further than O’Dowda. It’s the weakest part of the squad.
I don’t know if the best formation mightn’t be 3-5-2 – crowd the midfield to make things more difficult for the opposition, and with the number of decent centre halves available, maybe take a lead out of Jack Charlton’s book and play one of them ( Collins? Obamamidele?) at the base of midfield
@lesidees: sorry, that should be Omobamidele, of course
@lesidees: Definitely an option but remember that big Jack had Paul McGrath to put in there.