THERE WERE A couple of new additions to Ireland’s squad this afternoon with news that Scott Hogan and Aiden O’Brien have been included for the first time.
Manager Martin O’Neill was in Dublin to announce his provisional 32-man panel ahead of the final two 2018 World Cup qualifiers — at home to Moldova on 6 October before a potentially enormous showdown with Wales in Cardiff three days later.
Jon Walters however, has been ruled out with a knee injury, with O’Neill saying he’ll be out for “quite a few weeks”.
Salford-born striker Hogan, who is eligible through his two Irish grandparents, has been a target of O’Neill’s for some time and it was confirmed back in August that the 25-year-old had finally committed his international allegiance to the Boys in Green.
The Aston Villa man wasn’t named in the squad to face Georgia and Serbia in September as the paperwork hadn’t gone through, but after securing an Irish passport, he could be set to make his debut next month.
“He’s got the paperwork through and he is available for selection, so that’s good news,” O’Neill said of Hogan.
Fine goalscoring form for Brentford sealed Hogan a £15 million move to Villa back in January. Although the centre forward hasn’t managed to score in the Championship yet this season, he has bagged three goals in the League Cup.
Millwall attacker O’Brien has also received his first call-up to the senior squad. The former Ireland U21 international has two goals in seven Championship appearances this term.
Preston North End’s Greg Cunningham misses out through a knee injury, Harry Arter and while Jeff Hendrick and David McGoldrick both return after sitting out the last international break.
Robbie Brady and James McClean are both suspended for the Moldova game, meanwhile.
Ireland provisional squad for Moldova and Wales
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood
(Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), David Meyler (Hull City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Jonathan Hayes (Celtic), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Daryl Horgan (Preston North End)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall)
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