LAST UPDATE | 7 Nov 2024
MATT DOHERTY REMAINS exiled from the Irish squad ahead of next weekโs Nations League games against Finland and England, but Heimir Hallgrimsson has recalled Shane Duffy and captain Seamus Coleman in a squad announced this afternoon.
Shortly after the squad was announced, Everton manager Sean Dyche said Coleman has suffered a hamstring strain and wonโt play this weekend, and is a doubt for next weekโs international matches. Hallgrimsson remains hopeful Coleman will be available.
Meanwhile, Stoke City striker Tom Cannon comes back into the squad, while midfielder Andy Moran secures a promotion after excelling for the U21 side.
Luton Town defender Mark McGuinness retains his place in the squad after having had to miss both of last monthโs games through injury.
There is still no place for Matt Doherty in the squad, who is omitted along with Alan Browne. Hallgrimsson said that Doherty has again been left out for reasons of experimentation.
โThe last press conference, I explained and again Iโve said it now: we want to explore other players in that positionโ, said Hallgrimsson of Dohertyโs absence.
โHe has a lot of experience that can help us, but like I said, now we want to test other players in these positions, like I told you before the last camp, that we would use these two camps to explore a bit at least, so thatโs what weโre doing.
โWe know exactly what he can do.
โHe and Seamus have been kind of stuck in the starting XI for Ireland for a long time, they have done really well for the nation We know exactly what he can give us, so we donโt need to see him or test him. This is the last chance before the seriousness starts.โ
In an interview with The 42 last month, Doherty acknowledged his lack of game-time at Wolves, but said he believed he deserved to be in the Irish squad.
โTo be honest, I didnโt read it, I just heard about itโ, said Hallgrimsson when asked about Dohertyโs interview. โBut listen, all players should feel that they should be playing, they should have the confidence to feel that they should be playing and I would be unhappy if somebody thought that they didnโt deserve to play.โ
Asked whether Doherty will play again for Ireland, Hallgrimsson replied, โI hope so.โ
Hallgrimsson said โothers are aheadโ of Alan Browne in the pecking order, who has suffered for a sluggish start to life at Sunderland. Browne has played all 90 minutes of three of his sideโs previous four games, however.
โHopefully he gets his full fitness and If he continues to play like yesterday, thereโs good times ahead for himโ, said Hallgrimsson of Browne.
With Robbie Brady injured, Callum OโDowda looks to be the starting left-back in the squad, having impressed the Irish manager with his performances for Cardiff. There is no place in the squad for Ryan Manning, who has started Southamptonโs last four Premier League games.
โHe has been playing quite well, so we have been happy with himโ, said Hallgrimsson of Manning. โHe was close and we are monitoring his situation. Itโs good to have a player playing in the Premier League in this position.
โThere are more players as well playing well, so we just opted for this squad now, but yes, he was close.
โWe have worked with Callum. Callum has been really good playing for Cardiff, Man of the Match performances, and he knows what we are doing. He was quite unlucky, for me, to go home from the first camp, so we still havenโt seen him play, or I havenโt seen him play for us, so that is the priority now.โ
Chiedozie Ogbene is injured, and will be sidelined for eight to nine months following surgery on an achilles injury. All of Jack Taylor, Will Smallbone, Jamie McGrath, and Andrew Omobamidele miss out with injury.
Ireland host Finland on Thursday 14 November at the Aviva Stadium, bfeore travelling to Wembley to play England on Sunday 17 November.
MNT SQUAD ANNOUNCED ๐ฎ๐ช@stokecity duo Tom Cannon & Andy Moran named in the 23-man squad with returns from for captain Seamus Coleman & Shane Duffy ๐
โ Ireland Football โฝ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ช (@IrelandFootball) November 7, 2024
Exciting squad for November ๐คฉ
14/11 - ๐ฎ๐ช๐๐ซ๐ฎ
17/11 - ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ช pic.twitter.com/9XRGeMolZt
Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers:
Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max OโLeary (Bristol City)
Defenders:
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Dara OโShea (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), Mark McGuinness (Luton Town), Liam Scales (Celtic), Callum OโDowda (Cardiff City).
Midfielders:
Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andy Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion).
Forwards:
Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tom Cannon (Stoke City, on loan from Leicester City), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Festy Ebosele (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).
Reporting by Gavin Cooney
Having Colemanโs presence in squad worth it even if he stays on bench. He has all the tools to possibly be a great manager one day. Would be great if he followed Duff lead and went into LOI for a while
Wheres Ryan Manning?!
@ashton oriordan: we give upโฆ..tell us.
When you relying on Coleman and Duffy, you are going nowhere
@Liam23: In fairness, still missing a right-back good enough to challenge Coleman who has all the credentials bar pace. He makes up for it with game intelligence however. OโShea did OK there last time, and not sure Ebosele sees himself as an out and out full-back either. Canโt imagine Duffy gets anything more than a few mins if weโre closing out a game. Itโll be Scales & Collins mainly. Duffy has been a servant over the years so you could definitely do worse.
No Ryan Manning when you have started 4 premier league games on the trot in the squad is a scandalous non selection. Yet you name Kasey McAteer , Coleman and a few others who have had limited time playing. Does he even know what players we have at times he needs to get out and watch some games. Baffling squad for me
this likely is naive because heโs very young, but Iโm hopeful that Andy Moran gets meaningful mins on the pitch, gets the ball, and be creative. It would be a big deal for us to have someone able to hit our wingers and forwards, and be able to be threat from central midfield.
Still a few more that could be introduced and two or three dropped!!
Cool!