QPR DEFENDER RYAN Manning and Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher have been included in Mick McCarthy’s extended 39-man provisional Ireland squad for next month’s double-header against New Zealand and Denmark.
Ireland take on the All Whites in a friendly on 14 November, four days before the crunch Euro 2020 showdown with the Danes.
Galway native Manning, who was previously included in a provisional squad under Martin O’Neill, gets his first senior call-up from Mick McCarthy. Kelleher and Sheffield Wednesday’s Keiren Westwood are included as Middlesbrough’s Darren Randolph recovers from a thigh strain.
Teenage strikers Aaron Connolly and Troy Parrott are involved with fellow U21 internationals Nathan Collins and Michael Obafemi also pushing to make the final squad.
Shane Long, Robbie Brady, David McGoldrick, James McCarthy and defensive pair Ciaran Clark and Darragh Lenihan are also included.
Captain Seamus Coleman, suspended for the Denmark fixture after his red card in Geneva, will sit out the two matches but will be invited to join up with the squad in Dublin for the final European Championship qualifier.
“This is a huge month for us and these are two very different games,” said McCarthy who officially launched his squad at SSE Airtricity’s South Dublin headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
“The New Zealand game is a chance to have a look at the players who are fighting to be in the team and some of the players fighting to be in the squad. We saw how beneficial it was to change things up for the recent Bulgaria friendly and we may well do that again against New Zealand.
“It could be the perfect opportunity to have a look at Troy Parrott for example and see how he makes the step-up to senior international football after impressing so many people at underage level with Ireland and Spurs.
“We know what we have to do against Denmark and we will look to the tried and the trusted to win that game but who knows what will happen against New Zealand. Maybe someone will take their chance in that match and give me something to think about.”
In regular contact with Middlesbrough ‘keeper Randolph, McCarthy and his scouts will consider all their goalkeeping options before the squad meet up at their Dublin hotel on Sunday week.
“As we said on Monday, Darren is hopeful that he will be fit for Denmark and he has time on his side,” added McCarthy.
“We have to plan for all eventualities however. There is a chance that Caoimhin could play for Liverpool against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday while Keiren got back into the Wednesday team against Leeds last weekend and we will watch him against Blackburn this Saturday.”
Provisional Ireland squad v New Zealand and Denmark
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Kieran O’Hara (Burton Albion, on loan from Manchester United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool).
Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolves), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), John Egan (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Ryan Manning (QPR), Nathan Collins (Stoke City)
Midfielders: Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic, on loan from West Ham United), Glenn Whelan (Hearts), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McClean (Stoke City), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers)
Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), James Collins (Luton Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Aidan O’Brien (Millwall), Kieran Sadlier (Doncaster Rovers), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Shane Long (Southampton), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Hogan (Stoke City, on loan from Aston Villa).
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