DANNY ROGERS ADMITS having to do a double take after learning he had been called up to the Ireland senior squad.
The 22-year-old, who was born in New York before moving to Dublin as a child, is on the books at Aberdeen but has just begun his second season on loan in the Scottish Championship with Falkirk.
A regular for Ireland’s U21s, former Belvedere schoolboy Rogers assumed it was Noel King and not Martin O’Neill who was calling him up to represent the Boys in Green when he spotted the FAI’s message in his inbox.
“When the email came in, I actually thought it was for the U21s because I’ve been with them for the last year and a half or so,” said Rogers.
“So I was delighted to find out it was for the senior squad.”
With Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliot out injured, and David Forde concentrating on club commitments, Rogers has been joined by Manchester City youngster Ian Lawlor in training this week.
Current first choice stopper Darren Randolph will start in the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia (Thursday) and Moldova (Sunday) barring an injury, but the inexperienced pair will get the chance to experience life as back-up in the international set-up.
“I know they (O’Neill and Keane) come to our U21s games and I just found out that they’ve been to a couple of Falkirk games too so they’re watching me and I’m happy with that,” added Rogers. “Now I need to impress them and be in every squad.
“Keiren is out injured and Randolph will be starting but if anything happens to him, I’ll be more than capable of going in and doing well.”
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