JOSH CULLEN, NOW of Belgian club Anderlecht, has been called into Stephen Kenny’s Ireland squad, taking the place of the injured Harry Arter.
24-year-old midfielder Cullen links up with the squad ahead of their crucial Euros play-off semi-final away to Slovakia on Thursday [KO 7.45pm, live on RTÉ 2 and Sky Sports].
The former Ireland U21 captain and West Ham player will remain in the set-up as Ireland face Wales in Dublin on Sunday and Finland in Helsinki on Wednesday in the Uefa Nations League, but the full focus will be on the all-important Bratislava battle.
The FAI confirmed the latest squad change this evening, with Nottingham Forest midfielder Arter missing out through a thigh injury.
Cullen — whose cross-Europe move to Vincent Kompany’s side was made official last night — joined the team this afternoon after training in Abbotstown, before their arrival in the Slovakian capital this evening.
Kevin Long and Cyrus Christie were other late call-ups, with captain Seamus Coleman and Darragh Lenihan also ruled out through injury.
The news of Cullen’s addition comes on a day when the FAI confirmed that a backroom team member had tested positive for Covid-19. The Essex-born midfielder tested positive for the virus himself ahead of West Ham’s Carabao Cup tie against Hull on 22 September.
Squad Update | Josh Cullen called up
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 6, 2020
The @rscanderlecht midfielder has been called into the squad to replace Harry Arter who misses out with a thigh injury
Cullen joined the squad this afternoon with the squad who have just touched down in Bratislava#COYBIG | #SVKIRL pic.twitter.com/uP1N8OO0dD
Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).
Defenders: Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Kevin Long (Burnley), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Fulham).
Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht).
Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton).
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Aussie gleeson before De Burca he only looked to be good cuz he was the extra player
Good point but De Burca is nailed on. The media appear not to take the fact he was a free man in to consideration.
As said in the article played the sweeper role brilliantly ,if you’re marking you’re doing it wrong. Noel Connors unlucky tho ,he had Pa Horgan in his pocket for two big games this year.
That’ll be 4 for Paul Murphy in 4 years some going. In fairness some player
3 in 4 years*
Can’t really argue with that, people putting Johnny Glynn on the team was mad as he was average in each game bar cork. If Mannion had a played average in Leinster and all Ireland finals he’d be nearly hurler of the year but he was poor in both, great in all other games.
Glynn won a rake of puck outs every game or at least broke them down. Invaluable in a forward line. Very underrated before cork game and over hyped after
That could be spot on.
wat does Conor Fogarty have to do to get all star also Eoin Larkin hardest working and most consistent kk player all year
I’m from tipp and would only have s callinan as sole tipp representative on team
No joe canning
No. Are you surprised? I’m not.
Yeah he went for a walkabout on Jones road in the 2nd half
so did the rest of the team, can’t blame one indivdual
No but Canning is supposed to be the main man. Most of the Kilkenny team didn’t perform in the second half against Galway in the 2012 All Ireland final but yet Henry Shefflin gave a masterclass. For some reason people always try make excuses for Joe Canning. It’s about time these people woke up and realised he’s not as good as was expected of him.
Bubbles for ger aylward
Bubbles wasn’t there in the semi tho
No chance of that happening.
Shane Fives ahead of Cashel Barrett?
canning is top scorer (2nd top scorer from play behind mannion) people expect a lot more from him! I’ll put my house on it that he’ll get one!
You will be losing your house so. Putting up big scores against weak teams doesn’t guarantee an All Star. He scored a goal in the Leinster final but did nothing else, was awful against a terrible Cork team, didn’t do a huge amount against Tipp and disappeared in the second half of the All Ireland when his county needed him the most!
you couldn’t be more wrong, what weak teams did they play?
Couldn’t be more wrong! Really? Canning scored 1-15 against Laois. The last time I checked they were not exactly a hurling force.
It’s also easy to be top scorer when you’ve played the most games. TJ Reid, Maurice Shanahan & Seamus Callanan all had higher scoring averages. Those 3 are guaranteed All Stars. That shows being the top scorer isn’t everything.
Laois and a poor Dublin side in the first round of Leinster. Including reply he scored 2-9 then 1-15 against a poor Laois team.
Paddy Murphy from Offaly for Jason flynn
Fairly spot on team . No real other stand out consistent players
Cathal Barrett god dam predictive txt.
Barrett deserves one for sure in my book but I’d have James Barry of Tipp instead of Holden at full back. Other than that the team is pretty close to the one that’ll actually be announced I’d say.
Canning should nearly be there ahead of Aylward too maybe. The goal in Lenister final and to be fair despite the wides he hit he still got savage scores in every game. In his defence he was pretty much double marked 2nd half of AI final
James Barry??? That gave me a good laugh. Thanks!!
Ger Aylward apart from his scoring ( 3-15 or so ) was a symbol of the Kilkenny forwards working back ethic – he also was a key provider such as TJ Reids goal with the hopped pass and was very industrious
Very little from Shanahan apart from frees I would have Mannion