ANDREW MORAN AND Ryan Manning have both been called up to the Ireland squad for this week’s Uefa Nations League relegation play-off against Bulgaria.
Stoke midfielder Moran and Southampton defender Manning both missed out on Heimir Hallgrímsson’s initial 23-man selection but have now linked up with the camp ahead of Thursday’s first leg in Plovdiv and Sunday’s return in the Aviva Stadium.
Will Smallbone and Callum O’Dowda have both been ruled out of the games through injury.
“We have always spoke about a very competitive squad and very tight calls,” assistant coach John O’Shea said, pointing specifically to the omission of Callum Robinson, who is joint fourth in the Championship top scorer list with 12 goals this season.
“Callum has been playing week in, week out with Cardiff, a really good level.
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“Obviously Andy, he’s just out of the team at the minute but he’s had loads of minutes with Stoke.
“Will has just got back into the Southampton team, played two good games against Chelsea and Liverpool but has picked up a little knock. Because of the way the situation is with a short week and the intensity of the games [he misses out].
“Obviously Ryan getting back into that Southampton team as well: different spells, starting, coming on, affecting it.
“Really tight calls as you say and we’re delighted to have the two lads in.”
On Moran, O’Shea felt that the youngster impressed when he came off the bench for the closing stages of the 5-0 defeat away to England in November.
“Standing up and showing his ability and taking that situation on board. Heimir spoke about him and there’s going to be progress with him.
“He’s definitely one that we know all about, but it’s getting the timing right with him and what he does with his club as well going forward.
“But he definitely has all the attributes we want.”
Republic of Ireland Squad – UEFA Nations League
Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Middlesbrough, on loan from AFC Bournemouth), Gavin Bazunu (Standard Liége, on loan from Southampton).
Defenders: Jake O’Brien (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), James Abankwah (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andrew Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion).
Attackers: Evan Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion), Rocco Vata (Watford).
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Hallgrímsson makes two new Ireland call-ups as Smallbone and O'Dowda ruled out
ANDREW MORAN AND Ryan Manning have both been called up to the Ireland squad for this week’s Uefa Nations League relegation play-off against Bulgaria.
Stoke midfielder Moran and Southampton defender Manning both missed out on Heimir Hallgrímsson’s initial 23-man selection but have now linked up with the camp ahead of Thursday’s first leg in Plovdiv and Sunday’s return in the Aviva Stadium.
Will Smallbone and Callum O’Dowda have both been ruled out of the games through injury.
“We have always spoke about a very competitive squad and very tight calls,” assistant coach John O’Shea said, pointing specifically to the omission of Callum Robinson, who is joint fourth in the Championship top scorer list with 12 goals this season.
“Callum has been playing week in, week out with Cardiff, a really good level.
“Obviously Andy, he’s just out of the team at the minute but he’s had loads of minutes with Stoke.
“Will has just got back into the Southampton team, played two good games against Chelsea and Liverpool but has picked up a little knock. Because of the way the situation is with a short week and the intensity of the games [he misses out].
“Obviously Ryan getting back into that Southampton team as well: different spells, starting, coming on, affecting it.
“Really tight calls as you say and we’re delighted to have the two lads in.”
On Moran, O’Shea felt that the youngster impressed when he came off the bench for the closing stages of the 5-0 defeat away to England in November.
“Standing up and showing his ability and taking that situation on board. Heimir spoke about him and there’s going to be progress with him.
“He’s definitely one that we know all about, but it’s getting the timing right with him and what he does with his club as well going forward.
“But he definitely has all the attributes we want.”
Republic of Ireland Squad – UEFA Nations League
Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Middlesbrough, on loan from AFC Bournemouth), Gavin Bazunu (Standard Liége, on loan from Southampton).
Defenders: Jake O’Brien (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), James Abankwah (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andrew Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion).
Attackers: Evan Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion), Rocco Vata (Watford).
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