Four players have been forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad through injury as Conor Coventry receives first senior call-up.Burnley defender Kevin Long, Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, Swansea City midfielder Conor Hourihane and Bristol City winger Callum O’Dowda have all been ruled out.Blackburn defender Darragh Lenihan has been called up and West Ham midfielder Conor Coventry has been promoted from the U-21 squad, his first senior international call-up.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has been ruled out of Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers next week through injury, compounding the absence of first-choice ‘keeper Darren Randolph. Kelleher was in line to replace Randolph, but he has failed to recover from the abdominal injury that has kept him out of Liverpool’s squads for over a month, meaning Bournemouth’s Mark Travers is likely to make his senior competitive debut in next Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia.
There is some good news in the sense that James McClean and Aaron Connolly are both included, in spite of doubts surrounding their fitness this week.
Ireland have assembled in Manchester and will train at Man City’s training ground tomorrow, ahead of the flight to Belgrade for a crucial World Cup qualifier.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Gavin Bazunu (Rochdale, on loan from Manchester City), Kieran O’Hara (Burton Albion).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (Preston North End, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Jason Knight (Derby County), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Conor Coventry (West Ham United).
Wingers: Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McClean (Stoke City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).
Strikers: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Shane Long (AFC Bournemouth, on loan from Southampton), James Collins (Luton Town), Troy Parrott (Ipswich Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).