International manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has named Ogbene in his 23-man squad for the games with Hungary and Armenia, along with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, while Stoke City’s Bosun Lawal has also been included among the defenders.
Robbie Brady and Will Smallbone both miss out through injury, while there is no place for Jayson Molumby among the four midfielders as Killian Phillips keeps his place after breaking through in the friendlies before the summer.
Among an eight-strong group of attackers – Ogbene is listed among them – on loan Roma striker Evan Ferguson is joined by Troy Parrott who already has 10 goals to his name with AZ Alkmaar this season.
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Speaking at a press conference following the squad announcement, Hallgrimsson said selecting this 23-man squad was his “biggest problem” since taking charge of Ireland, as he has had to leave out several fit and available players.
While Brady, Smallbone, Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary and Strasbourg defender Andrew Omobamidele are injured, all of Coleman, Molumby, Callum O’Dowda, Mark Syakes, James Abankwah, Andrew Moran, Conor Coventry, Festy Ebosele, and Rocco Vata have been left out. Former England youth international, Louie Barry, currently on loan at Sheffield United from Aston Villa, was also considered.
Hallgrimsson visited the Everton training ground last week and knows Coleman is fit again and close to a return to action: having sat on the bench for the opening Premier League games of the season, Coleman is in contention to play in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield tomorrow night. He has recently been dogged by injury, however, and Coleman has managed only 19 minutes of competitive action for Everton since St Stephen’s Day last year.
“He really wants to come and help us, and he knows the importance of this camp”, said Hallgrimsson of Coleman. “It just shows his mental strength as well, coming from a bad injury, and just returning back to the Premier League, hopefully he’ll get his minutes and he might even play League Cup tomorrow, we’ll see.
“But once he starts playing, of course we really want to have him in the squad, but it would just be a wrong example picking a player that hasn’t played for almost a year.”
Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson has been impressed by Ferguson’s start to life on loan at Roma.
“First impression, really good. Looking at him, he looks fitter. Looking at pictures, he is looking great without sleeves! First game was brilliant, it’s tough for a striker to play in Italy, not a lot of spaces, physical defenders and he coped with it really well. I hope he brings that into our camp.”
Updated with Hallgrimsson quotes at 12.38pm
Republic of Ireland squad to face Hungary (home) on 6 September and Armenia (away) on 9 September
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers.
Defenders: Matt Doherty, Jake O’Brien, Jimmy Dunne, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Ryan Manning, Liam Scales, Bosun Lawal.
Midfielders: Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Jack Taylor, Killian Phillips.
Attackers: Evan Ferguson, Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Mikey Johnston, Kasey McAteer, Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene, Finn Azaz.
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Chiedozie Ogbene returns but Seamus Coleman absent from Ireland's opening World Cup qualifiers
LAST UPDATE | 26 Aug
CHIEDOZIE OGBENE HAS been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad for the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign next month.
But there is no place for captain Seamus Coleman who has been an unused substitute in Everton’s opening two Premier League games this season.
Ipswich Town winger Ogbene suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last October and only returned to training ahead of the new campaign.
International manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has named Ogbene in his 23-man squad for the games with Hungary and Armenia, along with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, while Stoke City’s Bosun Lawal has also been included among the defenders.
Robbie Brady and Will Smallbone both miss out through injury, while there is no place for Jayson Molumby among the four midfielders as Killian Phillips keeps his place after breaking through in the friendlies before the summer.
Among an eight-strong group of attackers – Ogbene is listed among them – on loan Roma striker Evan Ferguson is joined by Troy Parrott who already has 10 goals to his name with AZ Alkmaar this season.
Speaking at a press conference following the squad announcement, Hallgrimsson said selecting this 23-man squad was his “biggest problem” since taking charge of Ireland, as he has had to leave out several fit and available players.
While Brady, Smallbone, Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary and Strasbourg defender Andrew Omobamidele are injured, all of Coleman, Molumby, Callum O’Dowda, Mark Syakes, James Abankwah, Andrew Moran, Conor Coventry, Festy Ebosele, and Rocco Vata have been left out. Former England youth international, Louie Barry, currently on loan at Sheffield United from Aston Villa, was also considered.
Hallgrimsson visited the Everton training ground last week and knows Coleman is fit again and close to a return to action: having sat on the bench for the opening Premier League games of the season, Coleman is in contention to play in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield tomorrow night. He has recently been dogged by injury, however, and Coleman has managed only 19 minutes of competitive action for Everton since St Stephen’s Day last year.
“He really wants to come and help us, and he knows the importance of this camp”, said Hallgrimsson of Coleman. “It just shows his mental strength as well, coming from a bad injury, and just returning back to the Premier League, hopefully he’ll get his minutes and he might even play League Cup tomorrow, we’ll see.
“But once he starts playing, of course we really want to have him in the squad, but it would just be a wrong example picking a player that hasn’t played for almost a year.”
Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson has been impressed by Ferguson’s start to life on loan at Roma.
“First impression, really good. Looking at him, he looks fitter. Looking at pictures, he is looking great without sleeves! First game was brilliant, it’s tough for a striker to play in Italy, not a lot of spaces, physical defenders and he coped with it really well. I hope he brings that into our camp.”
Updated with Hallgrimsson quotes at 12.38pm
Republic of Ireland squad to face Hungary (home) on 6 September and Armenia (away) on 9 September
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers.
Defenders: Matt Doherty, Jake O’Brien, Jimmy Dunne, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Ryan Manning, Liam Scales, Bosun Lawal.
Midfielders: Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Jack Taylor, Killian Phillips.
Attackers: Evan Ferguson, Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Mikey Johnston, Kasey McAteer, Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene, Finn Azaz.
With reporting by Gavin Cooney
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